Preparative isolation of (+)-beta-eudesmol fromAmyris balsamifera

Summary Optically pure (+)-beta-eudesmol is a possible starting material for the synthesis of several termite defense compounds. A two step procedure for the isolation of gram quantities of (+)-beta-eudesmol from commercially availableAmyris balsamifera oil (syn. West Indian sandalwood oil), containing 8% beta-eudesmol, was developed. Step one consisted of an efficient vacuum distillation of the total oil. Step two was a medium pressure LC separation with an AgNO₃ impregnated silica gel stationary phase. Several other separation procedures failed due to the presence of many closely related sesquiterpene alcohols (75% of the oil).     

Methods and Supports for Immobilization and Stabilization of Cyclomaltodextrin Glucanotransferase from Thermoanaerobacter

Thermoanaerobacter cyclomaltodextrin glucanotransferase (CGTase) was immobilized using different supports and immobilization methods to study the effect on activity recovery. The enzyme covalently attached into glyoxyl-silica showed low activity recovery of 1.5%. The hydrophobic adsorption of the enzyme on Octadecyl-Sepabeads yielded also low activity recovery, 3.83%, and the enzyme could easily leak from the support at low ionic strength, although the immobilization yield was satisfactory, approximately 76%. The CGTase encapsulated in a sol–gel matrix gave an activity recovery of 6.94% and maximum cyclization activity at 60 °C, at pH 6.0. The half-time life at 60 °C, pH 6.0, in the presence of substrate was 100 min, which was lower than that of the free enzyme. The best activity recovery in this work (6.94%) is approximately five times smaller than that obtained previously using glyoxyl-agarose as support and covalent immobilization. Thus, the best support and method we tested so far for immobilization of CGTase is covalent attachment on glyoxyl-agarose.     

Investigations into beam monitors at the AEg ̄ IS experiment

Detailed diagnostic of antiproton beams at low energies is required for essentially all experiments at the Antiproton Decelerator (AD), but will be particularly important for the future Extra Low ENergy Antiproton ring (ELENA) and its keV beam lines to the different experiments. Many monitors have been successfully developed and operated at the AD, but in particular beam profile monitoring remains a challenge. A dedicated beam instrumentation and detector test stand has recently been setup at the AE \(\bar {g}\) IS experiment (Antimatter Experiment: Gravity, Interferometry, Spectroscopy). Located behind the actual experiment, it allows for parasitic use of the antiproton beam at different energies for testing and calibration. With the aim to explore and validate different candidate technologies for future low energy beam lines, as well as the downstream antihydrogen detector in AE \(\bar {g}\) IS, measurements have been carried out using Silicon strip and pixel detectors, a purpose-built secondary emission monitor and emulsions. Here, results from measurements and characterization of the different detector types with regard to their future use at the AD complex are presented.