Miniaturization of separation techniques using planar chip technology

Miniaturization of separation columns implies equally reduced vol- umes of injectors, detectors, and the connecting channels. Planar chip technology provides a powerful means for the fabrication of micron-sized structures such as channels. This is demonstrated by two examples. An optical absorbance detector chip exhibits the expected behavior of a 1 mm optical path length cell despite its volume of 1 nL. A capillary electrophoresis device allows integrated injections of 100 pL samples, efficiencies of 70,000 to 160,000 theoretical plates in 10 to 20 seconds, and external laser-induced fluorescence detection at any capillary length of choice between 5 and 50 mm.     

The role of radicals in enzymatic processes

Research on the mechanism of action of coenzyme B12, adenosylcobalamin, as a graduate student introduced the author to the field of organic free radicals in enzymology. Twenty years later, related work on S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) as a "poor man's coenzyme B12" was initiated in a detailed analysis of the mechanism of action of lysine 2,3-aminomutase (LAM). The interconversion of L-lysine and L-beta-lysine is catalyzed by LAM, which requires SAM, pyridoxal-5'-phosphate (PLP), and a [4Fe-4S] cluster as coenzymes. The mechanism of this reaction has been delineated as a radical isomerization, in which radical formation is initiated by the [4Fe-4S]-dependent cleavage of the SAM into methionine and the 5'-deoxyadenosyl radical. The mechanism of this process is discussed, together with the role of this radical in hydrogen abstraction from lysine to initiate the substrate radical isomerization. The chemistry underlying the functions of SAM, PLP, and [4Fe-4S] in the action of LAM is novel in all respects, except for the formation of a lysine-PLP aldimine at the active site. Of the four free radicals in the mechanism, three have been characterized by EPR spectroscopy. In the suicide inactivation of adenosylcobalamin-dependent dioldehydrase (DDH) by glycolaldehyde, the formation of cob(II)alamin and 5'-deoxyadenosine is accompanied by the conversion of glycolaldehyde to cis-ethanesemidione radical at the active site. The cis-ethanesemidione radical has been characterized by EPR spectroscopy. Its exceptional stability at the active site is the basis for the inactivation of DDH by glycolaldehyde.     

Prediction of the net retention volumes in gas chromatography using porous polymers coated with different stationary phases

Summary A new expression which permits the prediction of the net retention volumes in gas chromatography with column packings of coated porous polymers is reported. The porous polymers Chromosorb 101 and Chromosorb 102 were used as supports and squalane, Ethofat and Carbowax 20M as stationary phases at three different column temperatures of 80°C, 100°C and 150°C. Several organic compounds of various polarity were used as test compounds and the net retention volumes, V_Ntheor, have been calculated according to this new expression. The V_Ntheor values were compared with the experimental net retention volumes, V_Nexp, and it was found that the difference between these two values is dependent on the type of compound and column packing. Nevertheless, the elution order could be predicted in most cases.     

Gallium metal mediated allylation of carbonyl compounds and imines under solvent-free conditions

Gallium metal is effective in mediating the allylation of various carbonyl compounds and imines under solvent-free conditions, with the application of sonic energy, affording the corresponding homoallylic alcohols and amines. The imines themselves were also prepared under solventless conditions in high yield, thereby establishing a two-step solvent-free synthesis of homoallylic amines. In comparison, indium metal produced a mixture of the desired homoallylic secondary amine and the bis-allylated species via an iminium ion intermediate.     

On the Temperature–Pressure Free‐Energy Landscape of Proteins

We studied the thermodynamic stability of a small monomeric protein, staphylococcal nuclease (Snase), as a function of both temperature and pressure, and expressed it as a 3D free‐energy surface on the p,T‐plane using a second‐order Taylor expansion of the Gibbs free‐energy change ΔG upon unfolding. We took advantage of a series of different techniques (small‐angle Xray scattering, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, differential thermal analysis, pressure perturbation calorimetry and densitometry) in the evaluation of the conformation of the protein and in evaluating the changes in the thermodynamic parameters upon unfolding, such as the heat capacity, enthalpy, entropy, volume, isothermal compressibility and expansivity. The calculated results of the free‐energy landscape of the protein are in good agreement with experimental data of the p,T‐stability diagram of the protein over a temperature range from 200 to 400 K and at pressures from ambient pressure to 4000 bar. The results demonstrate that combined temperature–pressure‐dependent studies can help delineate the free‐energy landscape of proteins and hence help elucidate which features and thermodynamic parameters are essential in determining the stability of the native conformational state of proteins. The approach presented may also be used for studying other systems with so‐called re‐entrant or Tamman loop‐shaped phase diagrams.     

Excess Molar Volume and Viscosity of Isobutyric Acid + Water Binary Mixtures Near and Far Away from the Critical Temperature

The excess molar volume V^E, shear viscosity deviation Δη and excess Gibbs energy of activation ΔG^∗E of viscous flow have been investigated by using density (ρ) and shear viscosity (η) measurements for isobutyric acid + water (IBA+W) mixtures over the entire range of mole fractions at five different temperatures, both near and close to the critical temperature (2.055K ≤ (T−T_c)≤ 13.055K). The results were also fitted with the Redlich–Kister equation. This system exhibited very large negative values of V^E and very large positive values of Δη due to increased hydrogen bonding interactions and correlation length between unlike molecules in the critical region and to very large differences between the molar volumes of the pure components at low temperatures. The activation parameters ΔH^∗ and ΔS^∗ have been also calculated and show that the critical region has an important effect on the volumetric properties.     

The ionization of perchloric and hydrofluoric acids in aqueous solution

Cyclical bifurcated hydrogen bonded structures are proposed for aqueous solutions of hydrofluoric acid and for the bifluoride ion which are consistent with the spectral data. The structure proposed for HF is also applicable to solutions in organic solvents. Raman spectra of tetramethylguanidinium perchlorate suggest that the corresponding Raman spectra of perchloric acid solutions may not be interpreted in terms of a completely dissociated acid. Other evidence including activity coefficient, heat capacity and partial molal volume data suggest that there is some association in relatively dilute perchloric acid solutions between the perchlorate ion and the hydrated proton. This association decreases in concentrated aqueous solutions.     

Volume and heat capacity of model non-aqueous self-assembly systems

Blends of immiscible polymers are often stabilized by block copolymers which can form non-aqueous micelles and microemulsions in the liquid polymers. The phase diagrans, apparent volumes and apparent heat capacities of model non-aqueous binary and ternary systems were studied in order to investigate the conditions under which such self-assembly systems could form. 1,2-Hexanediol, which can cosolubilize hexane and ethyleneglycol, forms inverse micelles in hexane and weak microaggregates in ethyleneglycol. Genapol X-060, a commercial alcoholic surfactant containing on the average an aliphatic chain of 13 carbons and 6 oxyethylenes (C₁₃E₆), forms microaggregates in poly(ethyleneglycol) 400. These self-assembly systems are strengthen in the presence of a third component which has an affinity for the inner phase.Presented at the Symposium, 76^th CSC Congress, Sherbrooke, Quebec, May 30–June 3, 1993, honoring Professor Donald Patterson on the occasion of his 65^th birthday.     

A simple flow injection-reduced volume column system for hemoglobin typing

A flow injection (FI)-reduced volume column system was developed for hemoglobin (Hb) typing to be used as an initial screening method for thalassemia. The column was packed with 140 μl diethylaminoethyl (DEAE)-Sephadex A-50 ion exchange beads. Hb can be separated using Tris–HCl buffer solution with pH gradient 8.5–6.5 and then monitored spectrophotometrically at 415 nm. The hemolysate of 40 blood samples from packed red cells were screened for thalassemia by determining the amount of HbA₂ and HbE present. The proposed system was able to predict positive test results from those samples with β, E-trait and EE homozygous thalassemia, Hb types that were independently identified following the conventional method at the hospital laboratory. Advantages of the proposed system over the conventional column technique include low amount of reagents and blood sample needed, short analysis time and low cost. Each analysis required only 80 μl of 50 times diluted packed cells, which is equivalent to 1.6 μl undiluted packed cells, and it can be completed in only 35 min. This simple FI-reduced volume column system was demonstrated to be an economic alternative system for Hb typing to initially screen some types of thalassemia such as β-trait, E-trait and EE-homozygous which are commonly found in Thailand.     

聚偏氟乙烯的氯化改性

研究了聚偏氟乙烯 (PVDF)自由基引发的氯化反应。考察了各种因素 ,如氯化剂、引发剂的种类及浓度 ,反应介质、反应温度和反应时间的影响 ,确定了合成氯化PVDF的最佳反应条件。采用碱熔法测定氯含量 ,用HNMR进行了结构表征 ,并用溶度参数法、接触角法、DTA TG等方法对PVDF氯化前后的溶解性、附着力、熔点等性能进行了测试。结果表明 ,氯原子成功地引入到了PVDF上 ,当氯含量增加到 8 3 %时 ,氯化PVDF的熔点由 1 63℃降至 1 3 0℃左右 ,附着力也有了明显的改善 ,与水的接触角由 90°降至 5 4°,由不溶于丙酮变为溶于丙酮 ,对甲醇和四氯化碳的溶度参数的变化也说明了氯化PVDF的溶解性能变好 ,由TG曲线可知 ,氯化PVDF的热稳定性比改性前虽有一定的降低 ,但其分解温度仍在 3 0 0℃以上