Applicability of polymer theories to the thermodynamics of proteins at the air/water interface: example of β-lactoglobulin

Knowledge of the equation of state of adsorbed or deposited layers of proteins at the air/water interface is of fundamental interest in the understanding of the surface activity of these molecules. Using scaling laws of current polymer theories, it has been shown that the equation of state of the interfacial layer in the semi-dilute regime should relate the surface pressure to the surface concentration through a power law. The exponent of this power law should reflect the quality of the solvent and the conformation of the adsorbed polypeptide chain. In the case of β-lactoglobulin layers, in the range of surface concentrations that should correspond to the semi-dilute regime, the relationship between surface pressure and surface concentration is expressed as a power law. The exponent of this power law is strongly influenced by the nature of the aqueous substrate and by the net charge of the protein molecule. The use of scaling laws gives a coherent view of the expansion of the polypeptide chain in the interfacial layer and of the relationship between surface concentration and surface pressure in the semi-dilute regime. This result favours a strong similarity between β-lactoglobulin and a polymer chain in the interfacial layer. It is concluded that current theories of polymer adsorption could be applied to interfacial protein layers.     

Hydrothermal Synthesis and Structural Characterization of a Novel Organic—Inorganic Hybrid Compound {[Cu（2,2′—bpy）2]2—Mo8O26}

A novel organic-inorganic hybrid compound {[Cu(2,2′-bpy)2]2Mo8O26} has been hydrothermally synthesized and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The compound crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group, Pna21,with a=2.4164(5),b=1.8281(4),c=1.1877(2)nm,V=5.247(2)nm^3,Z=4,and final R1=0.0331,wR2=0.0727.The structure consists of discrete {[Cu(2,2′-bpy)2]2Mo8O26} clusters,constructed from a β-octamolybdate subunit[Mo8O26]^4- covalently bonded to two [Cu(2,2′-bpy)2]^2 coordination complex cations via bridging oxo groups.In addition,the spectroscopic properties and thernal behavior of this compound have been investigated by spectroscopic techniques (UV-vis,IR,Raman and EPR spectra) and TG analysis.     

Phase-transfer catalysis in reactions with the participation of polyvinyl chloride

When polyvinyl chloride is dehydrochlorinated under conditions of phase transfer catalysis, the nature of the interface determines the supramolecular structure of the synthesized polyacetylene, the packing density of crystalline regions in the polyacetylene, and the chemical properties of the polymer. The ionic mechanism of catalysis of these reactions has been established.This review is based on materials reported at the Conference Phase-Transfer Catalysis: New Ideas and Methods(March, 1994).Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 10, pp. 1886–1894, October, 1995.     

Acid activated montmorillonite and vermiculite clays as dehydration and cracking catalysts

Treatment of montmorillonite and vermiculite with hydrochloric acid results in an overall increase in acidity and acidic sites. IR and DSC studies of base adsorbed catalysts have revealed the heterogeneity of surface acidity on the activated catalysts. Clay catalysts have been found to dehydrate 1-butanol to 1-butene, which directly isomerizes tocis- andtrans-2-butenes, confirming the presence of Lewis and Brönsted acid sites. Cumene cracking studies using the clay catalyst also confirm the presence of Brönsted acid sites. The temperature and concentration of acid have been found to have a significant influence on the catalytic activity.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Dual Acidic Ionic Liquids

Novel ionic liquids with dual acidity, of which the cation contains Brφnsted acidity and anions contain Lewis acidity were synthesized. These ionic liquids obtained were identified by NMR, FF-IR, SDT and FAB-MS. Their acidities were determined by pyridine probe on IR spectrography.     

Studies on the effects of coated Li2CO3 on lithium electrode

Although a lithium metal anode has a high energy density compared with a carbon insertion anode, the poor rechargeability prevents the practical use of anode materials. A lithium electrode coated with Li₂CO₃ was prepared as a negative electrode to enhance cycleability through the control of the solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layer formation in Li secondary batteries. The electrochemical characteristics of the SEI layer were examined using chronopotentiometry (CP) and impedance spectroscopy. The Li₂CO₃-SEI layer prevents electrolyte decomposition reaction and has low interface resistance. In addition, the lithium ion diffusion in the SEI layer of the uncoated and the Li₂CO₃-coated electrode was evaluated using chronoamperometry (CA).     

Characterization of proteins separated by displacement chromatography using low angle laser light scattering photometry

Summary -Lactoglobulin A and B (-LACT) were separated by displacement chromatography (DSC) on an ionexchange column using dextran sulfate as the displacer. A LALLS photometer and a UV detector, in series, were used to determine the molecular weight (MW) of the proteins, on-line. The results indicate that both, -LACT A and B, were present as dimers in the buffer used for the mobile phase. The MWs of the proteins were about 6–8% higher than the theoretical MW of a dimer (37,000). Additional control studies have shown the presence of a high molecular weight species in both the proteins, which could possibly be an aggregate. This species was observed in the LALLS signal but was nearly absent in the UV signal. Our work has demonstrated the feasibility of interfacing LALLS with displacement chromatography for detecting impurities or aggregates which may be difficult to detect by conventional detectors used for chromatography.     

配合物聚合反应研究──Ⅱ.以二氨基磺磷酸盐配合物合成聚脲

以二氨基磺酸盐配合物合成了一系列主链上合金属元素(Ca,Ni,Co,Cu)的聚脲聚合物。用IR和1HNMR对其结构进行了表征,以TG-DTA研究了其热性能,并讨论了金属元素种类及其含量对聚脲聚合物溶液粘度的影响。     

Single polymer molecules adsorbed to mica and the oppositely charged polymer/surfactant complexes formed at the air–water interface visualized by atomic force microscopy

In the present study, the structure and morphology of single sodium poly(styrenesulfonate) (PSS) molecules adsorbed to mica surface from the natural aqueous solution is investigated using atomic force microscopy technique. Results show that single PSS molecules are observed which show a morphology of wormlike coils. Meanwhile, single sodium poly(styrenesulfonate) (PSS)/Hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) complexes deposited on mica from the air–water interface are also observed. However, the PSS/CTA⁺ complexes show different conformations by appearing in the morphology of circular patches. Experimental data are in fair agreement with the theoretical analysis.     

Electrical interaction between two cylinders with an ion-penetrable charged membrane in an oil/water interface

The electrical interaction between two long, parallel cylinders each is covered by an ion-penetrable charged membrane immersed in an oil/water interface is investigated. The effects of contact angle, radius of cylinder, and membrane thickness on the electrical interaction force are examined. The results of numerical simulation reveal that the following conditions lead to a greater electrical interaction force: (i) a larger contact angle, i.e. a larger fraction of a cylinder in the oil phase; (ii) a larger cylinder radius; and (iii) a thinner membrane. For a fixed ionic strength, the electrical interaction force is insensible to the type of electrolytes in the water phase, in general. However, if two cylinders are close enough, then the higher the valence of counterions the greater the electrical interaction force.