A new biosynthetic tracer for the inline measurement of virus retention in membrane processes: part I--Synthesis protocol

In this study, a new biosynthetic tracer was developed to characterize the virus retention dynamics of membrane systems. This new tracer is a modified bacteriophage obtained by the grafting of enzymatic probes to an MS2 bacteriophage, one of the smallest non-pathogenic bacteria viruses, with an average diameter of about 30 nm. A protocol for the synthesis and purification of this new tracer was developed in this work. The production of this biosynthetic tracer was first qualitatively shown by a chromatographic characterization and an enzymatic test. The average number of probes grafted per phage was then quantified for three batches of tracers made from the same native phage suspension and the same batch of enzymatic probes. This quantification demonstrated the reproducibility of the synthesis protocol developed.     

Heat exchanger design based on chaotic advection

Experiments on hydrodynamic and heat transfer behavior of the flow in a twisted curved channel were conducted in a water tunnel and also in two heat exchanger coils tested in a heat exchanger test facility. The flow regime, designated “chaotic advection,” is a subclass of laminar flow with high mixing properties. Preliminary results show that heat transfer is enhanced due to the chaotic trajectories generated in the flow.     

Spatially resolved micro-X-ray fluorescence and micro-X-ray absorption fine structure study of a fractured granite bore core following a radiotracer experiment

Spatially resolved X-ray absorption and fluorescence investigation with a micrometer-scale resolution on actinide-containing samples provide information necessary for safety assessment of nuclear waste disposal. In this paper one example of such an experiment is presented. This example entails neptunium speciation in a fractured granite bore core from the Swedish Äspö Hard Rock Laboratory following a radiotracer experiment using µ-XAFS and µ-XRF. In order to probe micro-volumes below the surface in the granite samples and thereby avoid potential changes in the Np speciation during cutting of the bore core, a confocal irradiation–detection geometry is employed. µ-XAFS results for a selected granite bore core cross section with ~ 3 nmol Np/g reveal that Np, originally introduced as Np(V) in the tracer cocktail, is present in the granite in its reduced Np(IV) form. The Np(IV) is often present as particles, tens of µm in size. Elemental distribution maps show the tracer Np to be located in fissures and permeable channels not larger than 100 µm. The Np distribution appears often correlated with Zn also present in some fissures. We observe small granite fissures containing Fe (presumably Fe(II)), where we do not detect any Np. It is feasible that inflowing Np(V) has a shorter residence time in large fractures, while in the smaller fissures migration is slower, leading to longer residence times, i.e., reaction times, where it is reduced to less soluble Np(IV) and becomes thereby immobilized.     

Tracer diffusion of star-branched polystyrenes in poly(vinyl methyl ether) gels

The tracer diffusion of 3-, 4-, and 12-arm polystyrene (PS) stars in poly(vinyl methyl ether) (PVME) gels has been measured by dynamic light scattering (DLS). The intensity correlation functions were analyzed by two methods. One was that employed previously in a DLS study of linear PS diffusion in PVME gels [N. A. Rotstein and T. P. Lodge, Macromolecules, Vol. 24. p. 1316 (1992)], and the other was based on consideration of possible nonergodicity effects [P. N. Pusey and W. van Megen, Physica A, Vol. 157, p. 705 (1990)]. Both methods gave equivalent results, suggesting that nonergodicity plays a small role in this system. This conclusion is not unreasonable, given that the PVME gels are almost isorefractive with the solvent (toluene), and that the signal is dominated by scattering from the PS chains. The resulting star diffusivities are consistently less than or equal to those for linear probes of comparable size, with the difference increasing with molecular weight. The diffusivities are also less than or equal to those obtained for the same stars in PVME solutions. A weak dependence on the number of arms is also observed. Finally, the mobility of a given star in a gel is much more sensitive to variations in the average molecular weight between cross-links than is the mobility of a linear chain. All of these features in the data are broadly consistent with the reptation hypothesis. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Density,conductance, transference numbers,and diffusion measurements in concentrated solutions of nickel chloride at 25°C

The Hittorf technique for measuring transference numbers has been modified to produce precise data in concentrated aqueous electrolyte solutions. Density, molar conductance, transference number, tracer-diffusion, and mutual diffusion data are reported for aqueous NiCl₂ solutions up to 4M concentration at 25°C.Visiting Fellow at the Australian National University on leave from the School of Chemical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia.     

Non-stoichiometry and magneto-optic properties of magnetic bubble thin films of TmIG substituted with bismuth and gallium

Thulium iron garnet thin films substituted with bismuth and gallium were prepared by LPE from a PbO.B₂O₃ flux. Radioactive isotope tracers were added to the melt as the chemical analysis technique. The deviation from the ratio (Pb+Bi+Tm)/(Fe+Ga)=0.6 of the layers was large and a proportion of the thulium ions possibly lie on the octahedral crystallographic sites. The concentration of Bi, Pb, and Ga as a function of the growth temperature was studied. The magneto-optic properties show that the layers are well suited for use in a magneto-optic device. A figure of merit of 2.5 degree per decibel at λ=560 nm was obtained and some magnetic bubble parameters are also presented.     

Untersuchungen von Mischvorgängen bei der Herstellung technischer Kohleprodukte unter Anwendung der Methode der radioaktiven Markierung

Es werden die Ergebnisse von Mischverfahren für Kohlepulver, Pech und andere Komponenten mitgeteilt, die unter Markierungen mit ²⁴Na-Benzoat im Laboratorium (Mischvolumen etwa 1 Liter) und im Betrieb (Mischvolumen etwa 100 Liter) durchgführt wurden. Die Experimente dienten dem Vergleich der Vergleich der Wirksamkeit verschiedener Mischmaschinen, der Ermittlung optimaler Mischzeiten und der Bestimmung des Verhaltens einzelner Komponenten beim Mischprozeβ. Dis mittels Szintillationszählung gewonnenen Meβwerte werden dabei mit einem Ergebnisdrucker registriert und mit Hilfa einer Rechenanlage mathematisch ausfewertet.     

Ein Beitrag zur radiometrischen Bestimmung des Ziehsteinverschleißes beim Ziehen von Stahldraht

Es wird ein zuvelässiges und sehr empfindliches radiometrisches Verfahren zur Bestimmung des Ziehsteinverschleiβes beim Ziehen von Stahldraht beschrieben. Im Vergleich zu den in der Literatur angegebenen radiometrischen Meβverfahren ist das behandelte Verfahren weniger zeitaufwending und gestattet es, bei einem vertretbaren Aufwand gröβere Verscuhsreihen durchzuführen. Mit Hilfe dieser Methode ist es möglich, langwierige groβtechnische Versuche zu umgehen und gleichzeitig eine wesentlich exaktere Aussage ūber den Verschleiβ unter verschiedenen Ziehbedingungen zu erhalten.     

Untersuchung der Schwefelbilanz bei metallurgischen Prozessen unter Verwendung von 35S

Es werden Methoden und Ergebnisse der Untersuchung der Schwefelbilanz beim Krupp-Rennverfahren und beim Siemens- Martin-Prozeβ unter Verwendung von ³⁵S beschrieben. Die Markierungsverfahren für die Ausgangsstoffe werden angegeben.     

Synthese und Qualitätskontrolle 15N-markierter Stickoxide mit hoher 15N-Häufigkeit für umweltrelevante Tracer-Untersuchungen

Für die Untersuchung ausgewählter Probleme des Verhaltens und der Wirkung der Stickoxide NO _x (NO + NO₂) in Ökosystemen, z.B. die Aufnahme und Freisetzung von NOx durch das System “Boden-Pflanze”, bietet sich der Einsatz ¹⁵N-markierter Stickoxide an. Die dazu benötigten ¹⁵N-markierten Gasgemische hoher Reinheit werden aus eigens dafür synthetisiertem [¹⁵N]Stickstoffmonoxid oder [¹⁵N]Stickstoffdioxid mit hoher ¹⁵N-Häufigkeit hergestellt. Beide Synthesen gehen jeweils von der kostengünstig kommerziell erhältlichen [¹⁵N]Salpetersäure aus.

Im Falle des [¹⁵N]Stickstoffdioxids erfolgt die Herstellung über die Präparation von Bleinitrat und dessen thermische Zersetzung. Die Ausbeute liegt bei 70–75% bezogen auf eingesetzte [¹⁵N]Salpetersäure.

Die Herstellung von [¹⁵N]Stickstoffmonoxid erfolgt durch Reduktion von [¹⁵N]Salpetersäure mit Eisen-II-sulfat in stark saurer Lösung. Die Ausbeute beträgt 60–70%, bezogen auf eingesetzte Salpetersäure.

The application of ¹⁵N is very useful for the investigation of the behavior and the effect of the nitrogen oxides NO _x (nitric oxide + nitrogen dioxide) in ecosystems, e.g. the uptake and release of NO _x by the soil-plant system. The ¹⁵N labelled gas mixture needed for that purpose has to be prepared from synthesized highly enriched [¹⁵N]nitric oxide and [¹⁵N]nitrogen dioxide. These two syntheses both use the commercially available and reasonable [¹⁵N]nitric acid.

In the case of [¹⁵N]nitrogen dioxide the synthesis is carried out via [¹⁵N]lead nitrate and its decomposition with increasing temperature. The yield is 70–75% related to the [¹⁵N]nitric acid input. The preparation of [¹⁵N]nitric oxide is done by reduction of [¹⁵N]nitric acid by means of FeSO₄ in strong acid solution. The yield amounts to 60–70%.