Preparation of hollow beads of poly(styrene-co-divinyl benzene)

Two methods are described for the production of hollow beads by copolymerization of styrene and divinyl benzene. Characterization of the beads is described and growth mechanisms proposed.     

Characterization of immobilized catalases and their application in pasteurization of milk with H2O2

The catalase (fromAspergillus niger) has been immobilized by a chemical method on the pous SiO₂ modified with γ-aminopropyltrietoxysilane, followed with glutaraldehyde and by a physical method in alginate and γ-carrageenan gel. Optimum support:enzyme ratios and pH values were determined for modified SiO₂ in a series of immobilization reactions of catalase in the presence of the crosslinking agent glutaraldehyde, and for alginate and γ-carrageenan in the presence of hemoglobin and bovine serum albimine. pH and temperaturedependent activity variations and the stability properties of immobilized catalase preparations were investigated. Rate constants for H₂O₂ decomposition and catalase deactivation were determined. The decomposition rate of H₂O₂ used in the cold pasteurizatioan of milk were investigated in a discontinuous batch type reactor system. Activity half-lives of immobilized catalase were determined.     

Surface properties of Reactive Yellow 2 immobilised pHEMA and HEMA/chitosan membranes: characterisation of their selectivity to different proteins

Poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate), pHEMA, and a composite pHEMA/chitosan networks were synthesized in the membrane form via UV initiated photo-polymerisation in the presence of an initiator ,′-azoisobutyronitrile. Reactive Yellow 2 (RY-2) was covalently immobilised as a dye–ligand onto both membranes. The polarity and surface energy of the investigated membranes were determined by contact angle measurement. The incorporation of chitosan in the pHEMA networks produced more hydrophilic surface, as indicated by contact angle analysis. The binding characteristics of lysozyme, γ-globulins, human serum albumin (HSA) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) to pHEMA-RY-2 and pHEMA/chitosan-RY-2 affinity membranes have been investigated from aqueous solution and their dye–ligand free forms were used as control systems. When chitosan was incorporated in the pHEMA network as a cationic polymer led to higher adsorption capacity for the lysozyme. Selective adsorption behaviour was also observed in the case of pHEMA/chitosan-RY-2 membrane for the lysozyme. The non-specific adsorptions of the lysozyme on the pHEMA and pHEMA/chitosan membranes were about 1.9 and 7.2 mg/ml, respectively. These were negligible for all others investigated proteins. The lysozyme adsorption data was analysed using the first-order and the second-order models. The first-order equation in both affinity membrane systems is the most appropriate equation to predict the adsorption capacities of the adsorbents. The adsorption isotherms well fitted the combined Langmuir–Freundlich model. A theoretical analysis has been conducted to estimate the thermodynamic contributions (changes in enthalpy, entropy and Gibbs free energy) for the adsorption of lysozyme to both dye–ligand immobilised membranes. The adsorption capacities of both dye–ligand immobilised membranes increased with increasing the temperature while decreased with increasing the NaCl concentration. Both affinity membranes are stable when subjected to sanitization with sodium hydroxide after repeated separation–elution cycles.     

New Copper（Ⅱ） and Nickel（Ⅱ） Complexes of 4-Morpholinoacetophenone Thiosemicarbazone： Structural, Electrochemical and Antimicrobial Studies

4-Morpholinoacetophenone thiosemicarbazone, MAPT, and its nickel（Ⅱ） and copper（Ⅱ） complexes have been prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, magnetic susceptibility, spectral methods （FT-IR, ^1H NMR） and cyclic voltammetry. Electrochemical behaviors of the complexes have been studied by cyclic voltammetry in DMF media showing metal centered reduction processes for both of them. The redox properties, nature of the electrode processes and the stability of the complexes were discussed. [Cu（MAPT）2]Cl2 complex shows Cu（Ⅱ）/Cu（Ⅰ） couple and quasi-reversible wave associated with the Cu（Ⅲ）/Cu（Ⅱ） process. The reduction/oxidation potential values depend on the structures of complexes. Also, the antimicrobial activities of these complexes were determined against S. aureus, E. coli and B. subtilis.     

A survey of 222Rn concentrations in dwellings of Turkey

As part of a national program to determine public exposure to natural radiation, indoor air ²²²Rn concentrations were determined in dwellings of Turkey. The ²²²Rn concentrations were measured with time-integrating passive nuclear etched track detectors in 27 provincial centers. The indoor radon concentrations were found to be in the range of 10-380 Bq^.m^-3. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

A novel synthesis of 14-(hydroxymethylalkyl) derivatives of dibenzoxanthenes and 3,3-dimethyl-4-(2-hydroxy-1-naphthyl)benzo[f]chroman

Several reactions of 2-naphthol with 2-alkyl-2-hydroxymethylaldehydes have been investigated. Novel synthesis of 14-(hydroxymethyl)alkyldibenzo[a,j]xanthenes and 3,3-dimethyl-4-(2-hydroxy-1-naphthyl)benzo[f]chroman has been realized.     

Production of citric acid using immobilized conidia of Aspergillus niger

Conidia of Aspergillus niger were immobilized in calcium alginate gel for the production of citric acid. First, the type of the preactivation medium, together with the preactivation period, was investigated. It was found that A. niger requires a 2-d preactivation period at a 0.05 g/L NH₄NO₃ concentration. Second, preactivated cells were used to determine the effects of nitrogen concentration and the flow rate of oxygen and air on the production of citric acid. Maximum citric acid production was attained with medium containing 0.01 g/L of NH₄NO₃. The rate of citric acid production in the nitrogenous medium was 33% higher when oxygen was used instead of air during the production phase. This corresponds to an increase of 85% when compared to production when neither oxygen nor air was fed into the system. In the nonnitrogenous medium citric acid concentration remained similar regardless of the use of air or oxygen. However, in the nonnitrogenous production medium, citric acid production was not influenced considerably when oxygen was used instead of air. The advantage of using immobilized cells is that production is achieved easily in the continuous system. Therefore, citric acid production was also tested using a packed-bed bioreactor, and an increase in productivity by a factor of 22 was achieved compared to the batch system.     

Structural characterization of disperse black 9 based Cu (II) complex and investigation of its some properties

We obtained the azo‐imine ligand (2,2′‐[4‐(5‐methoxy salicylidene‐4‐iminophenylazo)phenylimino]diethanol) (HL) and its Cu (II) complex (CuL) from the ethanol solution. The complex Cu(L)₂ was obtained as single crystals from the CH₃OH solution and structurally characterized. The electronic and photoluminescence properties of the ligand and its Cu (II) complex were investigated both in DMF solution and solid state. The oxidation and reduction behaviours of the compounds were studied in the solution and found that the redox processes are irreversible. Thermal studies show that the ligand has higher thermal stability than the CuL complex. Single crystals of the complex were obtained from slow evaporation of a DMF solution of the complex. Crystals of the complex showed a diffraction pattern; however, the structure of the complex was able to be solved.     

Synthesis, thermal stability, electronic features, and antimicrobial activity of phenolic azo dyes and their Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes

Four water soluble azo dyes, 4-(isopropyl)-2-[(E)-(4-chlorophenyl)diazenyl]phenol (L ¹), 4-(isopropyl)-2-[(E)-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)diazenyl]phenol (L²), 4-(sec-butyl)-2-[(E)-(4-chlorophenyl) diazenyl]phenol (L ³), 4-(sec-butyl)-2-[(E)-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)diazenyl]phenol (L ⁴), and their Cu(II) and Ni(II) complexes were synthesized and characterized using spectroscopic methods. Examination of their thermal stability revealed similar decomposition temperature of approximately 260–300°C and that they were more thermally stable than their metal complexes. Ni(II) complexes of ligands L² and L⁴ were more stable than the other coordination compounds. Among the synthesized ligands, L² and the complexes Cu(L³)₂ and Ni(L⁴)₂ showed both antimicrobial and antifungal activity. However, the other ligands and the complexes were poorly active against selected microorganisms.