ANODIC-OXIDATION OF HYDRAZINE ON GLASSY-CARBON MODIFIED BY MACROCYCLIC TRANSITION-METAL COMPLEXES .1. COBALT PROTOPORPHYRIN DIMETHYL ESTER MODIFIED ELECTRODE

The electrocatalytic oxidation of hydrazine (N2H4) on a glassy carbon electrode (GC) modified by monolayer and polymer films of cobalt protoporphyrin dimethyl ester (CoPP) has been studied. Both the monolayer and polymer films of CoPP are very active to the anodic oxidation of N2H4. The activity of CoPP for the anodic oxidation of N2H4 is dependent on the pH of the solution, and the thickness of polymerized CoPP film. The oxidation kinetics were examined by methods of cyclic voltammetry, rotating disc electrodes and steady-state polarization measurement.

ELECTROCHEMICAL-BEHAVIOR OF HETEROPOLY PHOSPHOMOLYBDOVANADATE ANIONS AT THE LIQUID LIQUID INTERFACE

Electrochemical transfer behavier of the V~vMo_(11)-V_5~vMo_7 heteropolyanions at the water/nitrobenzene interface has been investigated by using cyclic voltammetry. The effect of the solution acidity on the transfer behavior and the stable pH range of heteropolyanions were observed. Mixed melybdovanadate anions are more stable than 12-molybdophosphoric acid, however, the stability of the former decreases with increasing number of vanadium atoms. The main transfer species within the "potential window" has t...

Characterization of a new lectin involved in the protoplast regeneration of Bryopsis hypnoides

A group of coenocytic marine algae differs from higher plants, whose totipotency depends on an intact cell (or protoplast). Instead, this alga is able to aggregate its extruded protoplasm in sea water and generate new mature individuals. It is thought that lectins play a key role in the aggregation process. We purified a lectin associated with the aggregation of cell organelles in Bryopsis hypnoides. The lectin was ca. 27 kDa with a pI between pH 5 and pH 6. The absence of carbohydrate suggested that the lectin was not a glycoprotein. The hemagglutinating activity (HA) of the lectin was not dependent on the. presence of divalent cations and was inhibited by N-Acetylgalactosamine, N-Acetylglucosamine, and the glycoprotein bovine submaxillary mucin. The lectin preferentially agglutinated Gram-negative bacterium. The HA of this lectin was stable between pH 4 to pH 10. Cell organelles outside the cytoplasm were agglutinated by the addition of lectin solution (0.5 mg ml(-1)). Our results suggest that the regeneration of B. hypnoides is mediated by this lectin. We also demonstrated that the formation of cell organelle aggregates was inhibited by nigericin in natural seawater (pH 8.0). Given that nigericin dissipates proton gradients across the membrane, we hypothesize that the aggregation of cell organelles was proton-gradient dependent.

Preparation of chloroplasts from brown algae

Thalli from a brown alga Undaria pinnatifida were soaked by CaCl2 solution with different concentration and time at 4 degreesC, the effect of CaCl2 solution on efficiency and influorescence emission spectra of chloroplasts were examined. The results show that the efficiency of collected chloroplasts is increased markedly after soaking in CaCl2 solution. According to the results of collected efficiency and characteristic of influorescence emission spectra at room temperature of chloroplasts, it was suggested that soaking in the 0.2 mol/L CaCl2 solution for 10 min is optimum. Under this condition, the efficiency of collected chloroplasts is as 5 fold as control group, and the characteristics of chloroplasts obtained by CaCl2 soaking are similar to that of traditional method.

Low temperature synthesis of perovskite oxide using the adsorption properties of cellulose

La-0.8Sr(0).2CoO(3) (LSCO) oxide powder was prepared using the adsorption properties of cellulose. The preparation process was studied by XRD, FTIR, TG-DTA and CO2-TPD techniques. The results of XRD, IR and TG-DTA testified that cellulose could successfully reserve the homogeneity of the solution system to the solid precursor. During the early stage of pyrolysis, cellulose was partially oxidized, and some COO- groups appeared in its texture, which were then complexed with the adsorbed metal ions, and effectively suppressed the aggregation of metal ions. Formation of a pure perovskite and the properties of the powder resulted were found to be significantly influenced by the cellulose to metal nitrate ratio. Also the properties of the resulting powder were greatly influenced by the calcination conditions. If the produced carbon dioxide could not be eluted in time, carbonate would be formed in the bulk. Hence, a high calcination temperature (> 800 degreesC) was needed to acquire a pure phase LSCO. At optimized conditions, nano-crystal LSCO could be obtained at as low as 500 degreesC.

Protocol of capillary isoelectric focusing to separate extremely acidic and basic proteins

A new set-up was constructed for capillary isoelectric focusing (CIEF) involving a sampling capillary as a bypass fixed to the separation capillary. Sample solutions were subjected to a previously established pH gradient from the sample capillary. Besides performing conventional CIEF, the separation of ampholytic compounds with isoelectric points (p/s) beyond the pH gradient was carried out on this system. This method was termed as pH gradient driven electrophoresis (PGDE) and the basic mathematical expressions were derived to express the dynamic fundamentals. Proteins such as lysozyme, cytochrome C, and pepsin with p/s higher than 10 or below 3 were separated in a pH gradient provided by Pharmalyte (pH 3-10). Finally, this protocol convincingly exhibited its potential in the separation of a solution of chicken egg white.

A novel process for converting coalmine-drained methane gas to syngas over nickel-magnesia solid solution catalysts

A novel process is developed in this paper for utilizing the coalmine-drained methane gas that is usually vented straight into the atmosphere in most coalmines worldwide. It is expected that low-cost syngas can be produced by the combined air partial oxidation and CO2 reforming of methane, because this process utilizes directly the methane, air, and carbon dioxide in the coalmine-drained gas without going through the separation step. For this purpose, a nickel-magnesia solid solution catalyst was prepared and its catalytic performance for the proposed process was investigated. It was found that calcination temperature has significant influence on the catalytic performance due to the different extent of solid solution formation in the catalysts. A uniform nickel-magnesia solid solution catalyst exhibits higher stability than the catalysts in which NiO has not completely formed solid solution with MgO. Its catalytic activity and selectivity remain stable during 120 h of reaction. The product H-2/CO ratio is mainly dependent on the feed gas composition. By changing CO2/air ratio of the feed gases, syngas with a H-2/CO ratio between 1 and 1.9 can be obtained. The influences of reaction temperature and nickel loading on the catalytic performance were also investigated. (c) 2004 Elsevier B.V All rights reserved.

Interface of chip-based capillary electrophoresis-inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (CE-ICP-AES)

An interface of chip-based capillary electrophoresis (CE)-inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) that is based on cross-flow nebulization has been developed. A polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) CE-chip with conventional cross channel layout was used. A stainless steel tube was placed orthogonal to the exit of the CE separation channel for cross flow nebulization. A supplementary flow of buffer solution at the channel exit was used to improve nebulization efficiency. Two capillaries were inserted into the CE chip near the inlet of the separation channel for sample and buffer solution injection. Syringe pumps were used to manipulate the flow rate and flow direction of the sample, buffer, and supplementary buffer solution. Peak broadening due to the shape (bulb and tube-shaped) and size of the spray chambers was studied. The smaller tube-shaped spray chamber was used because of smaller peak broadening effect due to aerosol transport. The nebulization and transport efficiency of the CE-ICP interface was approximately 10%. Ba2+ and Mg2+ ions were eluted from the CE-chip within 30 s. Resolution of the Ba2+ and Mg2+ peaks was 0.7 using the chip-based CE-ICP-AES system.