Osmium Redox Hydrogel Mediated Biosensor for Measurement of Low Concentration Glucose Extracted by Reverse Iontophoresis

An osmium redox hydrogel mediated biosensor for continuous monitoring of glucose extracted from subcutaneous solution by reverse iontophoresis has been developed. For the measurement of low concentration glucose, osmium‐poly(vinylpyridine) wiring horseradish peroxidase was introduced to modify the smooth Au electrodes, and the developed glucose biosensor exhibited a high sensitivity of 11.45 nA μM^?1 cm^?2 and a low detection limit of 2 μM, as well as a high operational stability of more than 97% of its initial activity over a test period of 13.5 h in stirred glucose solution at low applied potential (?0.1 V vs. Ag|AgCl), efficiently inhibiting the electroactive interferences. Permeability of the hydrogels was studied and a diffusion coefficient of 2.4×10^?5 cm²/s for H₂O₂ was obtained. In addition, the effects, such as temperature and the variation happening on Ag|AgCl counter electrode, on determination of glucose were also considered. The proof‐of‐feasibility of the biosensors for the monitoring of the glucose extracted from the subcutaneous solution was tested in vitro, and the responses of the sensors were analyzed. A linear response to current produced by extracted glucose in the concentration range of subcutaneous glucose from 1.0 to 12 mM was obtained with a correlation coefficient up to 0.989. These results testify the feasibility of the developed sensors for measuring the low concentration glucose and have significance for the development of noninvasive glucose monitoring system for the control of diabetes.     

Cluster Light-Emitting Diodes Containing Copper Iodine Cube with 100 % Exciton Utilization Using Host-Cluster Synergy

Clusters combine the advantages of organic molecules and inorganic nanomaterials, which are promising alternatives for optoelectronic applications. Nonetheless, recently emerged cluster light-emitting diodes require further excited state optimization of cluster emitters, especially to reduce population of the cluster-centered triplet quenching state (³CC). Here we report that redox-active ligands enhance reverse intersystem crossing (RISC) of Cu₄I₄ cluster for triplet-to-singlet conversion, and thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) host can provide an external RISC channel. It indicates that the complementarity between TADF host and cluster in RISC transitions gives rise to 100 % triplet conversion efficiency and complete singlet exciton convergence, rendering 100-fold increased singlet radiation rate constant and tenfold decreased triplet non-radiation rate constant. We achieve a photoluminescence quantum yield of 99 % and a record external quantum efficiency of 29.4 %.     

Regulation of Multiple Resonance Delayed Fluorescence via Through-Space Charge Transfer Excited State towards High-Efficiency and Stable Narrowband Electroluminescence

B- and N-embedded multiple resonance (MR) type thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) emitters usually suffer from slow reverse intersystem crossing (RISC) process and aggregation-caused emission quenching. Here, we report the design of a sandwich structure by placing the B−N MR core between two electron-donating moieties, inducing through-space charge transfer (TSCT) states. The proper adjusting of the energy levels brings about a 10-fold higher RISC rate in comparison with the parent B−N molecule. In the meantime, a high photoluminescence quantum yield of 91 % and a good color purity were maintained. Organic light-emitting diodes based on the new MR emitter achieved a maximum external quantum efficiency of 31.7 % and small roll-offs at high brightness. High device efficiencies were also obtained for a wide range of doping concentrations of up to 20 wt % thanks to the steric shielding of the B−N core. A good operational stability with LT₉₅ of 85.2 h has also been revealed. The dual steric and electronic effects resulting from the introduction of a TSCT state offer an effective molecular design to address the critical challenges of MR-TADF emitters.     

Separate and Concentrate Lactic Acid Using Combination of Nanofiltration and Reverse Osmosis Membranes

The processes of lactic acid production include two key stages, which are (a) fermentation and (b) product recovery. In this study, free cell of Bifidobacterium longum was used to produce lactic acid from cheese whey. The produced lactic acid was then separated and purified from the fermentation broth using combination of nanofiltration and reverse osmosis membranes. Nanofiltration membrane with a molecular weight cutoff of 100–400 Da was used to separate lactic acid from lactose and cells in the cheese whey fermentation broth in the first step. The obtained permeate from the above nanofiltration is mainly composed of lactic acid and water, which was then concentrated with a reverse osmosis membrane in the second step. Among the tested nanofiltration membranes, HL membrane from GE Osmonics has the highest lactose retention (97 ± 1%). In the reverse osmosis process, the ADF membrane could retain 100% of lactic acid to obtain permeate with water only. The effect of membrane and pressure on permeate flux and retention of lactose/lactic acid was also reported in this paper.     

Preparation,structure characteristics and separation properties of thin-film composite polyamide-urethane seawater reverse osmosis membrane

A novel thin-film composite (TFC) seawater reverse osmosis membrane was developed by the interfacial polymerization of 5-chloroformyloxyisophthaloyl chloride (CFIC) and metaphenylenediamine (MPD) on the polysulphone supporting membrane. The performance of the TFC membrane was optimized by studying the preparation parameters, which included the reaction time, pH of the aqueous-MPD solution, monomer CFIC concentration, additive isopropyl alcohol content in aqueous solution, curing temperature and time. The reverse osmosis performance of the resulting membrane was evaluated through permeation experiment with synthetic seawater, and the structure of the novel membrane was characterized by using SEM, AFM and XPS. Furthermore, the separation properties of the TFC membrane were tested by examining the reverse osmosis performances of various conditions, the boron rejection performance and the long-term stability. The results show that the desired TFC seawater reverse osmosis membrane has a typical salt rejection of 99.4% and a flux of about 35 L/m² h for a feed aqueous solution containing 3.5 wt.% NaCl at 5.5 MPa, and an attractive boron rejection of more than 92% at natural pH of 7–8; that the novel seawater reverse osmosis membrane appears to comprise a thicker, smoother and less cross-linking film structure. Additionally, the TFC membrane exhibits good long-term stability.     

The effect of imposed flux on biofouling in reverse osmosis: Role of concentration polarisation and biofilm enhanced osmotic pressure phenomena

This paper describes a systematic study of biofouling in reverse osmosis process using model bacteria of Pseudomonas fluorescens and employing a sodium chloride tracer response technique for fouling characterization. It was found that the growth of biofilm at constant flux following initial bacteria colonization of the membrane surface increased with imposed flux. The rationale was that biofilm growth was nutrient dependent, where the nutrient availability at the membrane wall was controlled by the magnitude of concentration polarization, which is driven by flux. The salt tracer response showed that the biofouling comprised a hydraulic resistance and induced an enhanced osmotic pressure phenomenon; known as the biofilm enhanced osmotic pressure (BEOP) effect [M. Herzberg, M. Elimelech, Biofouling of reverse osmosis membranes: role of biofilm-enhanced osmotic pressure, Journal of Membrane Science 295 (2007) 11–20], due to hindered back diffusion of solutes through the tortuous path of the heterogeneous structure of the biofilm. For the conditions studied, the contribution of BEOP to transmembrane pressure increase was greater than the hydraulic resistance.     

Reducing power losses caused by ionic shortcut currents in reverse electrodialysis stacks by a validated model

Both in electrodialysis and in reverse electrodialysis ionic shortcut currents through feed and drain channels cause a considerable loss in efficiency. Model calculations based on an equivalent electric system of a reverse electrodialysis stack reveal that the effect of these salt bridges could be reduced via a proper stack design. The critical parameters which are to be optimized are ρ/r and R/r, where ρ is the lateral resistance along the spacers, R is the resistance of the feed and drain channels between two adjacent cells, and r is the internal resistance of a cell. Because these two parameters are dimensionless, different stacks can be easily compared. The model is validated with two experimental stacks differing in membrane type and spacer thickness, one with large ionic shortcut currents and one where this effect is less. The loss in efficiency decreased from 25 to 5% for a well-designed stack. The loss of efficiency in reverse electrodialysis and in electrodialysis can be reduced with the aid of the design parameters presented in this paper.     

R基团搜索技术用于HIV-1逆转录酶抑制剂的分子设计

本文采用基于R基团搜索技术的Topomer CoMFA方法对41个人类免疫缺陷病毒(HIV-1)逆转录酶抑制剂进行了三维定量构效关系(3D-QSAR)分析。所得优化模型的拟合、交互验证及外部验证的复相关系数分别为0.995、0.859和0.945。采用Topomer Search技术对ZINC数据库进行R基团的虚拟筛选,得到R贡献高的基团,以活性最高的13号分子为模板进行过滤得到1个Ra基团和20个Rb基团。并以此设计得到20个新化合物分子,其中有19个化合物的预测活性值高于13号分子。研究结果表明,所建立的Topomer CoMFA模型具有良好的稳定性和预测能力,基于R基团的Topomer Search技术可以有效筛选并设计出新的HIV-1逆转录酶抑制剂,为抗艾滋病新药设计提供了理论依据。     

Electrodialysis with Bipolar Membranes for Valorization of Brines

Several industrial processes, such as desalination or neutralization, generate brines defined as concentrated solutions of salts in water, usually NaCl, typically discharged in the vicinities of the desalination plant or factory. To reduce the environmental impact and promote the valorization of the wasted resources, alternatives must be sought. Among sustainable alternatives for the recovery of brines, the possibility of using Electrodialysis with Bipolar Membranes (EDBM) is of interest, because it allows recovering brines as useful acids and bases. This review focuses on the discussion of the technical aspects of the EDBM as a means to treat streams rich in NaCl from reverse osmosis desalination and industrial processes in order to complete the direct delivery of chemicals for self-supply. The main environmental issues associated with desalination brine disposal are presented. The state-of-the-art of valorization of brines by EDBM to acids and bases is completed. This work concludes with an in-depth discussion of the technical, techno-economic and economic barriers that prevent the widespread use of EDBM technology.     

二阶关联成像系统宽光谱吸收膜研制

为满足关联成像系统抑制背景的需求,选用Al、Cr和SiO_2作为镀膜材料,依据薄膜吸收理论,结合膜系设计软件设计了宽光谱吸收膜,并采用真空沉积技术获得了该薄膜样品.通过真空阶梯式退火,减小了膜层内应力,解决了薄膜牢固度问题;采用交互式分析对测试结果逆向反演,通过优化工艺参量,使膜系中敏感薄层厚度得以精准控制,并减小了膜厚控制误差.制备的吸收膜在400~1 100nm波段平均吸收率达到99.1%,满足系统使用要求.