Mannans as film formers and emulsion stabilizers

Mannans are abundant plant polysaccharides found in the endosperm of certain leguminous seeds (guar gum galactomannan, GG; locust bean gum galactomannan, LBG), in the tuber of the konjac plant (konjac glucomannan, KGM), and in softwoods (galactoglucomannan, GGM). This study focused on the effects of the chemical structure of mannans on their film-forming and emulsion-stabilizing properties. Special focus was on spruce GGM, which is an interesting new product from forest biorefineries. A plasticizer was needed for the formation of films from mannans other than KGM and the optimal proportion was 40% (w/w of polymers) glycerol or sorbitol. Galactomannans with lower galactose content (LBG, modified GG) produced films with higher elongation at break and tensile strength. The mechanical properties of GG-based films were improved by decreasing the degree of polymerization of the polysaccharide with moderate mannanase treatments. The improvement of mechanical properties of GGM-based films was sought by blending GGM with each of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVOH), corn arabinoxylan (cAX), and KGM. Adding other polymers increased the elongation at break of GGM blend films. The tensile strength of films increased with increasing amounts of PVOH and KGM, but the effect of cAX was the opposite. Dynamic mechanical analysis showed two separate loss modulus peaks for blends of GGM and PVOH, but a single peak for all other films. Optical and scanning electron microscopy confirmed good miscibility of GGM with cAX and KGM. In contrast, films blended from GGM and PVOH showed phase separation. GGM and KGM were mixed with cellulose nanowhiskers (CNW) to form composite films. Addition of CNW to KGM-based films induced the formation of fiberlike structures with lengths of several millimeters. In GGM-based films, rodlike structures with lengths of tens of micrometers were formed. Interestingly, the notable differences in the film structure did not appear to be related to the mechanical and thermal properties of the films. Permeability properties of GGM-based films were compared to those of films from commercial mannans KGM, GG, and LBG. GGM-based films had the lowest water vapor permeability when compared to films from other mannans. The oxygen permeability of GGM films was of the same magnitude as that of commercial polyethylene / ethylene vinyl alcohol / polyethylene laminate film. The aroma permeability of GGM films was low. All films were transparent in the visible region, but GGM films blocked the light transmission in the ultraviolet region of the spectra. The stabilizing effect of GGM on a model beverage emulsion system was studied and compared to that of GG, LBG, KGM, and cAX. In addition, GG was enzymatically modified in order to examine the effect of the degree of polymerization and the degree of substitution of galactomannans on emulsion stability. Use of GGM increased the turbidity of emulsions both immediately after preparation and after storage of up to 14 days at room temperature. GGM emulsions had higher turbidity than the emulsions containing other mannans. Increasing the storage temperature to +45 ºC led to rapid emulsion breakdown, but a decrease in storage temperature increased emulsion stability after 14 days. A low degree of polymerization and a high degree of substitution of the modified galactomannans were associated with a decrease in emulsion turbidity.

Applicability Range of Stoneys Formula and Modified Formulas for a Film/Substrate Bilayer

In addition to the layer thickness and effective Young’s modulus, the impact of the kinematic assumptions, interfacial condition, in-plane force, boundary conditions, and structure dimensions on the curvature of a film/substrate bilayer is examined. Different models for the analysis of the bilayer curvature are compared. It is demonstrated in our model that the assumption of a uniform curvature is valid only if there is no in-plane force. The effects of boundary conditions and structure dimensions, which are not-fully-included in previous models are shown to be significant. Three different approaches for deriving the curvature of a film/substrate bilayer are presented, compared, and analyzed. A more comprehensive study of the conditions regarding the applicability of Stoney’s formula and modified formulas is presented.

Fluorescence Hydrogen Peroxide Probe Based on a Microstructured Polymer Optical Fiber Modified with a Titanium Dioxide Film

A highly sensitive microstructured polymer optical fiber (MPOF) probe for hydrogen peroxide was made by forming a rhodamine 6G-doped titanium dioxide film on the side walls of array holes in an MPOF. It was found that hydrogen peroxide only has a response to the MPOF probe in a certain concentration of potassium iodide in sulfuric acid solution. The calibration graph of fluorescence intensity versus hydrogen peroxide concentration is linear in the range of 1.6 x 10(-7) mol/L to 9.6 x 10(-5) mol/L. The method, with high sensitivity and a wide linear range, has been applied to the determination of trace amounts of hydrogen peroxide in a few real samples, such as rain water and contact lens disinfectant, with satisfactory results.

Tris(2,2 '-bipyridyl) ruthenium(II) doped silica film modified indium tin oxide electrode and its electrochemiluminescent properties

An approach was reported to synthesize silica hybridized ruthenium bipyridyl complex through amidation reaction by covalent attachment of bis(bipyridyl)-4,4'-dicarboxy-2,2'-bipyridyl-ruthenium to (3-aminopropyl)-triethoxysilane. The hybrid complex then was gelatinized through acid catalytic hydrolysis method and a sol-gel modified indium, tin oxide electrode was prepared via spin coating technique. As prepared indium tin oxide electrode possesses good stability therein with excellent electrochemiluminescence behavior.

Study on the lifetime of M-intermediate of bacteriorhodopsin film chemically modified with CeO2 nanoparticles

The characteristics of intermediates of bacteriorhodopsin (bR) can be verified by chemical modification of its surroundings. CeO2 nanoparticles, which were obtained using water-in-oil (W/O) microemulsion and calcined at various temperatures, were used as chemical additive for the modification of bR. X-ray diffraction (XRD) shows that the mean particle sizes for the samples calcined at 500 and 800 degrees C are approximately 10 and 30 nm, respectively. We prepared CeO2 nanoparticle modified poly(vinyl alcohol) (bR-PVA) films with an optical density of about 1.5 at the ground state. It is observed that the lifetime of the Wintermediate for the modified films is prolonged compared with that of the unmodified ones, and the lifetime increases with decreasing particle size. A probable mechanism, which is likely to involve effective molecular interactions between the CeO2 nanoparticles and the bR molecules, is discussed. The hydroxyl groups, which might arise from the interaction between the nanoparticles and the surrounding water molecules, help to lower the ability of the Schiff base of uptaking protons in the Wintermediate. The results indicate that controlling the interactions between biomolecules and various nanomaterials would enlarge the functionality and the range of the application of nanoparticles.

Preparation of hybrid thin film modified carbon nanotubes on glassy carbon electrode and its electrocatalysis for oxygen reduction

A hybrid thin film containing Pt nanoparticles and [tetrakis(N-methylpyridyl)porphyrinato] cobalt (CoTMPyP) modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) on a glassy carbon (GC) electrode surface was fabricated. This hybrid film electrode exhibited remarkable electrocatalytic activity for oxygen reduction and high stability with promising applications in fuel cells.

Preparation and characterization of a novel beta-cyclodextrin modified poly(N-acetylaniline) film

Hydroquinone was chosen as an electroactive probe to study the beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) modified poly(N-acetylaniline) (PNAANI) electrode. The beta-CD modified PNAANI electrode was prepared by electrooxidation of the PNAANI electrode in a beta-CD/DMSO solution. The electrochemical properties of the beta-CD inclusion complex of hydroquinone on the PNAANI electrode and hydroquinone on the beta-CD modified PNAANI electrode were studied. In the cyclic voltammogram of hydroquinone at the beta-CD/PNAANI electrode, DeltaE(p) of the peaks is sharpening and the area of the peaks is increasing, which can be due to the inclusion of hydroquinone into the cavity of beta-CD immobilized at the electrode surface. The beta-CD/PNAANI film was characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and H-1 NMR. The mechanism for beta-CD incorporation into the polymer film was also proposed.

Study on polymer micelles of hydrophobically modified ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose using single-molecule force spectroscopy

Individual hydrophobically modified ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose (HM-EHEC) molecules under different conditions were elongated using a new atomic force microscope (AFM) based technique-single-molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS). The critical concentration of HM-EHEC for micelle-like clusters at a solid/liquid interface was around 0.8 wt %, which is lower than that in solution. The different mechanical properties of HM-EHEC below and above the critical concentration were displayed on force-extension curves. Through a comparison with unmodified hydroxyethyl cellulose, substituent-induced effects on nanomechanical features of HM-EHEC were investigated. Because of hydrophobic interactions and cooperative binding with the polymer, surfactants such as sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) dramatically influence the elastic properties of HM-EHEC below the critical concentration, and further addition of SDS reduces the interactions between the hydrophobic groups and the surfactant.

In-situ microscopic FT-IR spectroelectrochemical investigation of polythiophene film modified electrode

A polythiophene film was electrochemically deposited on a Pt micro-plate electrode and investigated by cyclic voltammetry and in-situ reflection microscopic FTIR spectroscopy. The FTIR analysis showed that the electropolymerization of thiophene on the Pt surface was affected Lv the surface adsorption processes of thiophene molecules. Two adsorption modes were identified. Two structure models of the polythiophene chain were observed simultaneously. It was proposed that the good conductibility of the polythiophene film was originated from a co-vibratory equilibrium of the link part of model I and model II.

Cobalt(II)hexacyanoferrate film modified glassy carbon electrode for construction of a glucose biosensor

An amperometric glucose biosensor was constructed based on a glassy carbon electrode modified with a Cobalt(II)hexacyanoferrate film which catalyzes electroreduction of hydrogen peroxide. Gelatin was used as immobilization matrix. Interference could be effectively eliminated by the combination of low detection potential with a Nafion coating. A low applied potential can avoid oxidation of interferences such as ascorbic acid, uric acid, p-acetyl-aminophenol, etc.. Nafion coating prevents interferences from access to the electrode surface by electrostatic repulsion. A wide linear range of detection was obtained. Analytical performance parameters are given and kinetic analysis discussed.

Investigation of oxygen- and hydrogen peroxide-reduction on platinum particles dispersed on poly(o-phenylenediamine) film modified glassy carbon electrodes

Composite membrane modified electrodes were prepared by electrochemical deposition of platinum particles in a poly(o-phenylenediamine) (PPD) him coated on glassy carbon (GC) electrodes. The modified electrodes showed high catalytic activity towards the reduction of oxygen and hydrogen peroxide. A four-electron transfer process predominated the reduction process. The pH dependence and the stability of the electrodes were also studied.

Unidirectional current flow of reversible redox couples on a MoO3 film-modified microelectrode

In this paper, we have investigated the reactivity of the molybdenum oxide film toward some standard redox systems (e.g., ferrocene (Fc) and its derivatives) and observed a few interesting phenomena. The results demonstrate that the electrochemical behaviour of Fc and its derivatives at the oxide-modified carbon fiber (CF) microelectrode differs from that at a bare CF microelectrode, The conductivity of the molybdenum oxide film is seriously affected by the range and the direction of the potential scan, which influences the electrochemical behaviour of these redox systems at the film electrode. If the cycling potential is more positive than the reduction potential of the molybdenum oxide film, the reduction and oxidation peak currents of Fc and its derivatives could not be observed. The result indicates that the molybdenum oxide film on a microelectrode surface cannot transfer electrons between the surface of the electrode and Fc or its derivatives due to the existence of a high resistance between the interface in these potential ranges. On the other hand, if the lower limit of the scan potential was extended to a potential more negative than the reduction peak potential of the film, the oxidation peak of Fc or its derivatives appeared at about the potential relative to E-0 of Fc or its derivatives on the bare electrode, and the peak current is proportional to the concentration of these couples in the electrolyte. To our surprise, the peak height on the modified electrode is much larger than that on the bare CF microelectrode under the same conditions in the range of low concentration of these couples, and the oxidation peak potential of these couples is more negative than that on the bare CF microelectrode. On the basis of the experimental observation, we propose that these redox couples may undergo an interaction with the reduction state of the molybdenum oxide film. The new phenomena that we observed have been explained by using this interaction. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.