Fabrication and characterization of biocompatible nacre-like structures from α-zirconium hydrogen phosphate hydrate and chitosan

Composite materials with an ordered layered structure resembling that of nacre were fabricated by layer-by-layer assembly making use of presynthesized α-zirconium hydrogenphosphate hydrate (ZrP) platelets and chitosan. These two biocompatible materials were chosen in view of possible applications in the biomedical field, e.g., as bone or joint replacement implants. The effect of different concentrations of the inorganic ZrP platelets and the organic components (chitosan) on the composite assembly and structure was investigated. A high concentration of chitosan (0.1 wt.%) resulted in a misalignment of the inorganic platelets, while at very low concentrations (0.001 wt.%), the substrate was not fully covered by the polymer, again leading to misalignment. Also, the concentration of the α-ZrP platelets affected the composite assembly and structure. The number of dipping cycles was varied between 70 and 220, yielding a maximum thickness of approximately 6 μm. The pH value of the chitosan solution was also varied to investigate its influence on the composite assembly. The mechanical properties of the composites were tested with a nanoindenter. For samples prepared with the same number of dipping cycles, higher values of Young's modulus and hardness were obtained with improved alignment of the platelets in the samples. For samples prepared with 220 dipping cycles, a Young's modulus of 2.6 GPa and a hardness of 70 MPa were observed. Important general relationships are recognized between the preparation parameters, the degree of order within the nacre-like films and the resulting mechanical properties.     

A microfluidic method to study demulsification kinetics

We present the results of experiments studying droplet coalescence in a dense layer of emulsion droplets using microfluidic circuits. The microfluidic structure allows direct observation of collisions and coalescence events between oil droplets dispersed in water. The coalescence rate of a flowing hexadecane-in-water emulsion was measured as a function of the droplet velocity and droplet concentration from image sequences measured with a high-speed camera. A trajectory analysis of colliding droplet pairs allows evaluation of the film drainage profile and coalescence time t(c.) The coalescence times obtained for thousands of droplet pairs enable us to calculate coalescence time distributions for each set of experimental parameters, which are the mean droplet approach velocity (v(0)), the mean dispersed phase fraction (φ) and the mean hydraulic diameter of a droplet pair (d(p)). The expected value E(t(c)) of the coalescence time distributions scales as E(t(c)) is proportional to (v(0))(-0.105±0.043)(d(p))(0.562±0.287), but is independent of φ. We discuss the potential of the procedure for the prediction of emulsion stability in industrial applications.     

Chemical potential of a nonionic surfactant in solution

The chemical potential of a surfactant in solution can be calculated from the Gibbs adsorption equation when the surface excess of the surfactant and the surface tension of the solution as a function of surfactant concentration are known. We have investigated a solution of the nonionic surfactant 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) in the polar solvent 3-hydroxypropionitrile at concentrations below and above the critical micelle concentration (cmc). Neutral impact collision ion scattering spectroscopy was applied for the direct measurement of the surface excess of POPC as a function of concentration. The Gibbs adsorption equation was applied in conjunction with surface tension measurements to evaluate the chemical potential and the activity coefficients of POPC, respectively. We find that the solution shows ideal behavior up to the cmc and that the chemical potential remains constant at concentrations larger than the cmc.     

Catecholase activity of a copper(II) complex with a macrocyclic ligand: unraveling catalytic mechanisms

We report the structure, properties and a mechanism for the catecholase activity of a tetranuclear carbonato-bridged copper(II) cluster with the macrocyclic ligand [22]pr4pz (9,22-dipropyl-1,4,9,14,17,22,27,28,29, 30-decaazapentacyclo[22.2.1.1(4,7).1(11,14). 1(17,20)]triacontane-5,7(28),11(29),12,18, 20(30),24(27),25-octaene). In this complex, two copper ions within a macrocyclic unit are bridged by a carbonate anion, which further connects two macrocyclic units together. Magnetic susceptibility studies have shown the existence of a ferromagnetic interaction between the two copper ions within one macrocyclic ring, and a weak antiferromagnetic interaction between the two neighboring copper ions of two different macrocyclic units. The tetranuclear complex was found to be the major compound present in solution at high concentration levels, but its dissociation into two dinuclear units occurs upon dilution. The dinuclear complex catalyzes the oxidation of 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol to the respective quinone in methanol by two different pathways, one proceeding via the formation of semiquinone species with the subsequent production of dihydrogen peroxide as a byproduct, and another proceeding via the two-electron reduction of the dicopper(II) center by the substrate, with two molecules of quinone and one molecule of water generated per one catalytic cycle. The occurrence of the first pathway was, however, found to cease shortly after the beginning of the catalytic reaction. The influence of hydrogen peroxide and di-tert-butyl-o-benzoquinone on the catalytic mechanism has been investigated. The crystal structures of the free ligand and the reduced dicopper(I) complex, as well as the electrochemical properties of both the Cu(II) and the Cu(I) complexes are also reported.     

Evidence for two ferryl species in chloroperoxidase compound II

Using a combination of density functional calculations and M?ssbauer spectroscopy, we have examined chloroperoxidase compound II (CPO-II). The M?ssbauer spectrum of CPO-II suggests the presence of two distinct ferryl species in an approximately 70:30 ratio. Density functional calculations and cryogenic reduction and annealing experiments allow us to assign the major species as an Fe(IV)OH intermediate. The M?ssbauer parameters of the minor component are indicative of an authentic iron(IV)oxo species, but we have found the 70:30 ratio to be pH invariant. The unchanging ratio of component concentrations is in agreement with CPO-II's visible absorption spectrum, which shows no change over the enzyme's range of pH stability.     

Production of Ethanol and Feed by High Dry Matter Hydrolysis and Fermentation of Palm Kernel Press Cake

Palm kernel press cake (PKC) is a residue from palm oil extraction presently only used as a low protein feed supplement. PKC contains 50% fermentable hexose sugars present in the form of glucan and mainly galactomannan. This makes PKC an interesting feedstock for processing into bioethanol or in other biorefinery processes. Using a combination of mannanase, β-mannosidase, and cellulases, it was possible without any pretreatment to hydrolyze PKC at solid concentrations of 35% dry matter with mannose yields up to 88% of theoretical. Fermentation was tested using Saccharomyces cerevisiae in both a separate hydrolysis and fermentation (SHF) and simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) setup. The hydrolysates could readily be fermented without addition of nutrients and with average fermentation yields of 0.43?±?0.02 g/g based on consumed mannose and glucose. Employing SSF, final ethanol concentrations of 70 g/kg was achieved in 216 h, corresponding to an ethanol yield of 70% of theoretical or 200 g ethanol/kg PKC. Testing various enzyme mixtures revealed that including cellulases in combination with mannanases significantly improved ethanol yields. Processing PKC to ethanol resulted in a solid residue enriched in protein from 17% to 28%, a 70% increase, thereby potentially making a high-protein containing feed supplement.     

Eine Frage der richtigen Stärke

Starch plays an important role in a broad range of industrial applications. The major part is gained from potatoes that usually include two starch components: Amylose and Amylopectin. Amylopectin is clearly superior in several applications due to its molecular structure. Therefore, a potato that does only build Amylopectin is important for the industry. “Amflora” is a genetically enhanced potato that is designed for this purpose.