Thermodynamic studies of the binding interactions of surfactin analogues to lipid vesicles Application of isothermal titration calorimetry

Isothermal titration calorimetry was applied for studying the binding interactions of cyclic and linear surfactins with different ionic charge (z= −2 and −3) and lipid chain length (n=14 and 18) to 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidyl-choline (POPC) vesicles in 10mMTris buffer at pH8.5with 150mMNaCl at 25°C. Surfactin analogues interacted spontaneously (ΔG _D ^w→b < 0) with POPC vesicles. The binding reactions were endothermic (ΔH _D ^w→b > 0) and entropy-driven process (ΔS _D ^w→b > 0). Moreover, significant differences in the binding constant values (K) ranging from 6.6·10³ to 9.6·10⁴ M⁻¹ show that cyclic structure and the increase of lipid chain length are favourable on the surfactin binding affinity to POPC vesicles, whereas the rise of the number of negative charges has an opposite effect.     

Influence of the production of two lipopeptides,Iturin a and Surfactin S1, on oxygen transfer duringBacillus subtilis fermentation

Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology - Bacillus subtilis produces three types of lipopeptides: Iturins, Fengycins, and Surfactins. These amphiphilic molecules influence the volumetric oxygen...     

Monolayer properties of uronic acid bicatenary derivatives at the air-water interface: effect of hydroxyl group stereochemistry evidenced by experimental and computational approaches

By screening uronic acid-based surfactant interfacial properties, the effect of the hydroxyl group stereochemistry (OH-4) on the conformation of bicatenary (disubstituted) derivatives at the air-water interface has been evidenced by experimental and computational approaches. Physical and optical properties of a monolayer characterized by Langmuir film balance, Brewster angle microscopy, and ellipsometry at 20 °C reveal that the derivative of glucuronate (C(14/14)-GlcA) forms a more expanded monolayer, and shows a transition state under compression, in the opposite to that of galacturonate (C(14/14)-GalA). Both films are very mechanically resistant (compression modulus > 300 mN m(-1)) and stable (collapse pressure exceeding 60 mN m(-1)), while that of C(14/14)-GalA exhibits a very high compression modulus up to 600 mN m(-1) like films in the solid state. Computational approaches provide single and assembly molecular models that corroborate the molecule expansion degree and interactions data from experimental results. Differences in the molecular conformation and film behaviours of uronic acid bicatenary derivatives at the air-water interface are attributed to the intra-H-bonding formation, which is more favourable with an OH-4 in the axial (C(14/14)-GalA) than in the equatorial position (C(14/14)-GlcA).     

Photocatalytic Degradation of Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) Waste Using BiVO4 Based Catalysts

Disposal of palm oil mill effluent (POME), which is highly polluting from the palm oil industry, needs to be handled properly to minimize the harmful impact on the surrounding environment. Photocatalytic technology is one of the advanced technologies that can be developed due to its low operating costs, as well as being sustainable, renewable, and environmentally friendly. This paper reports on the photocatalytic degradation of palm oil mill effluent (POME) using a BiVO₄ photocatalyst under UV-visible light irradiation. BiVO₄ photocatalysts were synthesized via sol-gel method and their physical and chemical properties were characterized using several characterization tools including X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), surface area analysis using the BET method, Raman spectroscopy, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), and UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-Vis DRS). The effect of calcination temperature on the properties and photocatalytic performance for POME degradation using BiVO₄ photocatalyst was also studied. XRD characterization data show a phase transformation of BiVO₄ from tetragonal to monoclinic phase at a temperature of 450 °C (BV-450). The defect site comprising of vanadium vacancy (V_v) was generated through calcination under air and maxima at the BV-450 sample and proposed as the origin of the highest reaction rate constant (k) of photocatalytic POME removal among various calcination temperature treatments with a k value of 1.04 × 10⁻³ min⁻¹. These findings provide design guidelines to develop efficient BiVO₄-based photocatalyst through defect engineering for potential scalable photocatalytic organic pollutant degradation.     

Modelling the mobile target covering problem using flying drones

This paper addresses the mobile targets covering problem by using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). It is assumed that each UAV has a limited initial energy and the energy consumption is related to the UAV’s altitude. Indeed, the higher the altitude, the larger the monitored area and the higher the energy consumption. When an UAV runs out of battery, it is replaced by a new one. The aim is to locate UAVs in order to cover the piece of plane in which the target moves by using a minimum number of UAVs. Each target has to be monitored for each instant time. The problem under consideration is mathematically represented by defining mixed integer non-linear optimization models. Heuristic procedures are defined and they are based on restricted mixed integer programming (MIP) formulation of the problem. A computational study is carried out to assess the behaviour of the proposed models and MIP-based heuristics. A comparison in terms of efficiency and effectiveness among models and heuristics is carried out.     

Sustainable Diesel from Pyrolysis of Unsaturated Fatty Acid Basic Soaps: The Effect of Temperature on Yield and Product Composition

The production of sustainable diesel without hydrogen addition remains a challenge for low-cost fuel production. In this work, the pyrolysis of unsaturated fatty acid (UFA) basic soaps was studied for the production sustainable diesel (bio-hydrocarbons). UFAs were obtained from palm fatty acids distillate (PFAD), which was purified by the fractional crystallization method. Metal hydroxides were used to make basic soap composed of a Ca, Mg, and Zn mixture with particular composition. The pyrolysis reactions were carried out in a batch reactor at atmospheric pressure and various temperatures from 375 to 475 °C. The liquid products were obtained with the best yield (58.35%) at 425 °C and yield of diesel fraction 53.4%. The fatty acids were not detected in the pyrolysis liquid product. The gas product consisted of carbon dioxide and methane. The liquid products were a mixture of hydrocarbon with carbon chains in the range of C₇ and C₂₀ containing n-alkane, alkene, and iso-alkane.     

Optimization of biosurfactant lipopeptide production from Bacillus subtilis S499 by Plackett-Burman design

Bacillus subtilis S499 is well-known for its ability to produce two families of surfactant lipopeptides: Iturin A and Surfactin S1. Fermentation optimization for this strain was performed to amplify the surfactant production. Ten active variables were analyzed by two successive Plackett-Burman designs, consisting respectively of 12 and 16 experiments to give an optimized medium. The amount of biosurfactant lipopeptides in the supernatant of a culture carried out in this optimized medium was about five times higher than that obtained in nonoptimized rich medium. The analysis of the surfactant molecules produced in such optimized conditions has revealed the presence of a third family of lipopeptides: the fengycins. The time-dependent production of these three families of molecules in bioreactors showed that surfactin S1 is produced during the exponential phase and iturin A and fengycins during the stationary phase.