Some engineering parameters for Propionic acid fermentation coupled with Ultrafiltration

The effect of circulation rate on permeate flux, the energy requirements for heating or cooling, the reactor homogeneity, and cell activity are discussed for a continuous culture system with cell recycle. The fermentation system was a continuous stirred-tank reactor with an ultrafiltration membrane unit for cell recycle. The membranes have a tubular configuration and are composed of a carbon support coated with zirconium oxide. The permeate flux obtained for a long-run fermentation with Propionibacterium acidi-propionici was higher when the circulation rate was increased: 5.13 L/m²-h for a circulation rate of 0.810 m³/h and 7.09 L/m²-h for 1.104 m³/h. The temperature rise inside the fermenter for different circulation rates was studied, allowing determination of the need of input or output of energy for temperature control. Residence time distribution studies showed that, with a circulation rate of 0.606 m³/h, the dead volume was 9.2%, whereas at 1.104 m³/h the reactor behavior was almost ideal. The influence of the circulation rate on loss of cell activity is also discussed, and rheological studies are suggested as an indirect indicator of cell viability. We hereby express our recognition for the ongoing collaborations with James Gaddy (University of Arkansas) and Gerard Goma (INSA, Toulouse, France).     

Speciation Analysis of Serum Copper by Ultrafiltration Combined with Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

Ultrafiltration combined with graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) was used to study protein binding and speciation of copper in human serum. Ultrafiltration was carried out using a cell unit with ultrafiltration membranes having a nominal cut‐off of 10,000 Dalton. The effects of various experimental factors including the kind and concentration of electrolyte, sample storage, pH. pressure and the preconditioning of the membranes on the speciation analysis of serum copper by ultrafiltration were examined. It was observed that 4.5 ± 2.3% of the total copper in serum was ultrafiltrable and this value did not seem to be influenced by the total serum elemental concentration, the pH (6.5–10) and the pressure (≤ 1.5 kg/cm²). The preconditioning of the ultrafiltration system with 0.1 mol/L calcium nitrate can overcome the adsorption loss of copper effectively, and the addition of tris‐HCl solution (pH 7.4) to serum accelerates the ultrafiltration. The present method was proved to be suitable for speciation analysis for its simplicity, rapidity, small sample requirement and easy control. The results obtained with the method are accurate and reliable.     

微乳液聚合耦合共混法构建聚偏氟乙烯共混杂化膜

以苯乙烯和甲基丙烯酸甲酯混合物作为油相, 采用反相微乳液法制备了AgCl纳米粒子; 通过微乳液原位聚合油相单体得到包含AgCl纳米粒子的聚合乳液; 将聚合乳液与聚偏氟乙烯(PVDF)通过共混法构建了包含AgCl纳米粒子的PVDF共混杂化膜. 紫外-可见光谱、 透射电子显微镜(TEM)及扫描电子显微镜(SEM)等表征结果和超滤实验结果表明, 聚合乳液加入的同时引入了亲水性聚合物和表面亲水的AgCl纳米粒子, 不仅改善了PVDF共混杂化膜的孔隙率和平均孔径, 还显著增强了PVDF共混杂化膜的极性和亲水性, 最终提升了膜的水通量和抗污染性能; 过量聚合乳液加入后不能与PVDF材料均匀共混, 而且AgCl纳米粒子也会在膜中形成团聚物堵塞膜孔隙, 从而削弱了膜的水通量和抗污染性能.     

聚乙烯亚胺-金属络合物的稳定常数及配位数的测定

将聚合物络合超滤(PC-UF)技术与电感耦合等离子体质谱(ICP-MS)结合, 利用化学理论计算模型, 建立了测定聚乙烯亚胺(PEI)与金属离子络合稳定常数及平均配位数的方法. 将该方法用于PEI与Cd²⁺的络合过程. 配制不同浓度比的PEI和Cd²⁺的混合溶液, 待络合反应平衡后, 用超滤离心管离心分离高分子PEI-Cd络合物, 自由离子Cd²⁺及其小分子络合物渗滤至滤液中; 用10 mL体积分数为3%稀硝酸将滤膜上截留的PEI-Cd络合物解离, 离心得到Cd²⁺的稀硝酸溶液; 用ICP-MS分别测定2次超滤后滤液中Cd²⁺的浓度, 利用化学理论模型进行计算, 得到PEI-Cd络合物的稳定常数和平均配位数. pH=4.0～5.9时, PEI-Cd络合平衡的研究结果表明, 稳定常数和平均配位数均随pH值的增大而增大, 较低程度的质子化可使PEI与Cd²⁺的络合能力增强, 络合稳定常数增大.     

离心超滤质谱法筛选中药复方二妙丸中黄嘌呤氧化酶抑制剂

采用离心超滤质谱分析技术(UF-UPLC/Q-TOF/MS), 结合体外酶活性实验方法, 对中药复方二妙丸提取物中的黄嘌呤氧化酶抑制剂进行了筛选. 体外酶活性实验测得二妙丸水提液对黄嘌呤氧化酶的半数抑制浓度(IC₅₀)为(0.218±0.0034) mg/mL, 表明二妙丸具有较强的黄嘌呤氧化酶抑制活性. 进一步采用离心超滤质谱技术对二妙丸水提物中潜在的黄嘌呤氧化酶抑制剂进行筛选, 从中筛选并鉴定了9种具有潜在黄嘌呤氧化酶抑制活性的化合物, 为开发黄嘌呤氧化酶抑制剂及阐明二妙丸治疗痛风和高尿酸血症的作用机制提供了一定的依据.     

Performance improvement of hybrid polymer membranes for wastewater treatment by introduction of micro reaction locations

This article reviews the progresses on polymer membranes embedded with novel inorganic nanomaterials to provide micro reaction locations (MRLs) in the polymer matrices for wastewater treatment. Ultrafiltration (UF) membranes, especially polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and polysulfone (PSF) membranes, are broadly applied in wastewater treatment. The strategy of embedding functional nanomaterials into the polymer matrices has been extensively investigated to enhance the integrated properties of polymer membrane. Nevertheless, the performance enhancement just comes from physical interactions between nanomaterials and wastes, while the chemical interactions are not involved, thus limiting further improvements. In order to further enhance the integrated properties of polymer membranes, functional inorganic nanomaterials that can chemically react with the wastes are proposed and embedded into the polymer membranes to form many MRLs. In this paper, the strategies for embedding functional nanomaterials such as sulfated TiO₂ deposited SiO₂ nanotubes, solid superacid porous ZrO₂ shell/void/TiO₂ core particles and porous Y_xFe_yZr_1-x-yO₂ coated TiO₂ solid superacid nanoparticles in polymer membranes were presented and the enhancement effect of MRLs on their integrated properties for wastewater treatments was discussed. Therefore, polymer membranes embedded with functional inorganic nanomaterials with MRLs are potentially applied in various wastewater treatments.     

PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF POLYSULFONE AND POLYETHERSULFONE MEMBRANES FOR CALCIUM (Ca2+) AND MAGNESIUM (Mg2+) SEPARATION BY COMPLEXATION ULTRAFILTRATION

ABSTRACT

Asymmetric ultrafiltration membranes were synthesized from locally available polysulfone and polyethersulfone polymers using aprotic solvents and organic additives by the phase inversion method. The membranes were characterized in terms of pure water permeability, separation behavior with respect to polyethylene glycols of various molecular weights and electrolytes. The suitability of using polyethyleneimine (PEI) for selective removal of calcium and magnesium salts by an ultrafiltration process was studied in terms of optimum polymer loading at reasonable permeate flux, irreversible adsorptive fouling of the macromolecular ligand on the polymer as functions of solution pH and ionic strength, and metal ion separation as a function of concentration and pressure. Direct electron microscopic observation of fresh, as well as fouled, membranes are presented.