Production of pectate lyase by penicillium viridicatum RFC3 in solid-state and submerged fermentation

Pectate lyase (PL) was produced by the filamentous fungus Penicillium viridicatum RFC3 in solid-state cultures of a mixture of orange bagasse and wheat bran (1 : 1 w/w), or orange bagasse, wheat bran and sugarcane bagasse (1 : 1 : 0.5 w/w), and in a submerged liquid culture with orange bagasse and wheat bran (3%) as the carbon source. PL production was highest (1,500U mL -1 or 300Ug -1 of substrate) in solid-state fermentation (SSF) on wheat bran and orange bagasse at 96 hours. PL production in submerged fermentation (SmF) was influenced by the initial pH of the medium. With the initial pH adjusted to 4.5, 5.0, and 5.5, the peak activity was observed after 72, 48, and 24 hours of fermentation, respectively, when the pH of the medium reached the value 5.0. PL from SSF and SmF were loaded on Sephadex-G75 columns and six activity peaks were obtained from crude enzyme fromSSF and designated PL I, II, III, IV, V, andVI, while five peaks were obtained fromcrude enzyme fromSmF and labeled PL I', II', III', IV', and VII'. Crude enzyme and fraction III from each fermentative process were tested further. The optimum pH for crude PL from either process was 5.5, while that for PL III was 8.0. The maximum activity of enzymes from SSF was observed at 35°C, but crude enzyme was more thermotolerant than PL III, maintaining its maximum activity up to 45°C. Crude enzyme from SmF and PL III' showed thermophilic profiles of activity, with maximum activity at 60 and 55°C, respectively. In the absence of substrate, the crude enzyme from SSF was stable over the pH range 3.0-10.0 and PL III was most stable in the pH range 4.0-7.0. Crude enzyme from SmF retained 70%-80% of its maximum activity in the acid-neutral pH range (4.0-7.0), but PIII showed high stability at alkaline pH (7.5-9.5). PL from SSF was more thermolabile than that from SmF. The latter maintained 60% of its initial activity after 1 h at 55°C. The differing behavior of the enzymes with respect to pH and temperature suggests that they are different isozymes. Copyright © 2010 Viviani Ferreira et al.

Short Communication: Polystyrene-an inert carrier for L·glutaminase production by marine Vibrio costico/a under selld-state fermentation

Polystyrene beads, impregnated with mineral salts/glutamine medium as inert support, were used to produce L-glutaminase from Vibrio costicola by solid-state fermentation. Maximum enzyme yield, 88 U/g substrate, was after 36 h. Glucose at 10 g/kg enhanced the enzyme yield by 66%. The support system allowed glutaminase to be recovered with higher specific activity and lower viscosity than when a wheat-bran system was used

Endoglucanase production with the newly isolated Myceliophtora sp. i-1d3b in a packed bed solid state fermentor

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Solid state production of thermostable pectinases from thermophilic Thermoascus aurantiacus

Pectin lyase (Pl) and polygalacturonase (Pg) production by Thermoascus aurantiacus 179-5 was carried out by means of solid-state determination using orange bagasse and wheat bran as a carbon sources. Pg and Pl had optimum activity at pH 5.0 and 10.5 respectively. Maximal activity of the enzymes were determined at 65 °C. Pg was stable in the acidic to neutral pH range and at 60 °C for 1 h. whereas Pl was stable at acidic pH and at 60 °C for 5 h. © 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Production and Characterization of β-glucosidase Obtained by the Solid-State Cultivation of the Thermophilic Fungus Thermomucor indicae-seudaticae N31

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Solid-state nanocrystalline dye-sensitized solar cell using 2-mercapto benzimidazole doped poly(ethylene oxide) as a new polymer electrolyte

New composite doped poly (ethylene oxide) polymer electrolyte was developed using 2-mercapto benzimidazole as plasticizer and iodide/triiodide as redox couple. The fabrication of the cell involves Poly(ethylene oxide)/ 2-mercapto benzimidazole / iodide/triiodide as polymer electrolyte in dye-sensitized solar cell fabricated with N3 dye and TiO2 nanoparticles as the photoanode and Platinum coated FTO (fluorine doped SnO2) as counter electrode. The current-volatage characteristics under simulated sunlight AM1.5 shows a short circuit current Isc of 8.7mA and open circuit photovoltage 508 mV. The conductivity measurements for the new polymer electrolyte and the photoelectrochemical measurments were carried out systematically. In 2-mercapto benzimidazole the electron rich sulphur and nitrogen atoms, act as pi-electron donors that form good interaction with iodine which plays a vital role in the performance of the fabricated dye-sensitized solar cells. The resonance effect increases the stability of the cell to a considerable extent. These results suggest that the new composite polymer electrolyte performs as a promising new doped polymer-electrolyte.

Raman spectroscopy of hydrogene-arsenate group (AsO3OH) in solid-state compounds: cobalt mineral phase burgessite Co2(H2O)4[AsO3OH]2•H2O

Raman spectrum of burgessite, Co2(H2O)4[AsO3OH]2.H2O was studied, interpreted and compared with its infrared spectrum. The stretching and bending vibrations of (AsO3) and As-OH units together with the stretching, bending and libration modes of water molecules and hydroxyl ions were assigned. The range of O-H...O hydrogen bond lengths was inferred from the Raman and infrared spectra of burgessite. The presence of (AsO3OH)2- units in the crystal structure of burgessite was proved in agreement with its recently solved crystal structure. Raman and infrared spectra of erythrite inferred from the RRUFF database are used for comparison.

Raman spectroscopy of hydrogen arsenate group (AsO3OH)2− in solid-state compounds: cobalt-containing zinc arsenate mineral, koritnigite (Zn,Co)(AsO3OH)·H2O

Raman spectra of two well-defined types of koritnigite crystals from the Jáchymov ore district, Czech Republic, were recorded and interpreted. No substantial differences were observed between both crystal types. Observed Raman bands were attributed to the (AsO3OH)2- stretching and bending vibrations, stretching and bending vibrations of water molecules and hydroxyl ions. Non-interpreted Raman spectra of koritnigite from the RRUFF database, and published infrared spectra of cobaltkoritnigite were used for comparison. The O-H...O hydrogen bond lengths in the crystal structure of koritnigite were inferred from the Raman spectra and compared with those derived from the X-ray single crystal refinement. The presence of (AsO3OH)2- units in the crystal structure of koritnigite was proved from the Raman spectra which supports the conclusions of the X-ray structure analysis.

A solid state Marx generator with a novel configuration

The new configuration proposed in this paper for Marx Generator (MG) aims to generate high voltage for pulsed power applications through reduced number of semiconductor components with a more efficient load supplying process. The main idea is to charge two groups of capacitors in parallel through an inductor and take advantage of resonant phenomenon in charging each capacitor up to a double input voltage level. In each resonant half a cycle, one of those capacitor groups are charged, and eventually the charged capacitors will be connected in series and the summation of the capacitor voltages can be appeared at the output of the topology. This topology can be considered as a modified Marx generator which works based on the resonant concept. Simulated models of this converter have been investigated in Matlab/SIMULINK platform and a prototype set up has been implemented in laboratory. The acquired results of either fully satisfy the anticipations in proper operation of the converter.

A solid state Marx generator with a novel configuration

The new configuration proposed in this paper for Marx Generator (MG.) aims to generate high voltage for pulsed power applications through reduced number of semiconductor components with a more efficient load supplying process. The main idea is to charge two groups of capacitors in parallel through an inductor and take the advantage of resonant phenomenon in charging each capacitor up to a double input voltage level. In each resonant half a cycle, one of those capacitor groups are charged, and eventually the charged capacitors will be connected in series and the summation of the capacitor voltages can be appeared at the output of the topology. This topology can be considered as a modified Marx generator which works based on the resonant concept. Simulated models of this converter have been investigated in Matlab/SIMULINK platform and the acquired results fully satisfy the anticipations in proper operation of the converter.

A Raman spectroscopic study of the different vanadate-groups in solid-state compounds, model case : mineral phases vésigniéite, BaCu3(VO4)2(OH)2, and volborthite, Cu3V2O7(OH)2•2H2O

Raman spectroscopy has been used to study vanadates in the solid state. The molecular structure of the vanadate minerals vésigniéite [BaCu3(VO4)2(OH)2] and volborthite [Cu3V2O7(OH)2·2H2O] have been studied by Raman spectroscopy and infrared spectroscopy. The spectra are related to the structure of the two minerals. The Raman spectrum of vésigniéite is characterized by two intense bands at 821 and 856 cm−1 assigned to ν1 (VO4)3− symmetric stretching modes. A series of infrared bands at 755, 787 and 899 cm−1 are assigned to the ν3 (VO4)3− antisymmetric stretching vibrational mode. Raman bands at 307 and 332 cm−1 and at 466 and 511 cm−1 are assigned to the ν2 and ν4 (VO4)3− bending modes. The Raman spectrum of volborthite is characterized by the strong band at 888 cm−1, assigned to the ν1 (VO3) symmetric stretching vibrations. Raman bands at 858 and 749 cm−1 are assigned to the ν3 (VO3) antisymmetric stretching vibrations; those at 814 cm−1 to the ν3 (VOV) antisymmetric vibrations; that at 508 cm−1 to the ν1 (VOV) symmetric stretching vibration and those at 442 and 476 cm−1 and 347 and 308 cm−1 to the ν4 (VO3) and ν2 (VO3) bending vibrations, respectively. The spectra of vésigniéite and volborthite are similar, especially in the region of skeletal vibrations, even though their crystal structures differ.

A novel CDVM based high-voltage converter using low power solid-state switches and a tuned resonant circuit designed for pulsed power applications

A novel concept of producing high dc voltage for pulsed-power applications is proposed in this paper. The topology consists of an LC resonant circuit supplied through a tuned alternating waveform that is produced by an inverter. The control scheme is based on the detection of variations in the resonant frequency and adjustment of the switching signal patterns for the inverter to produce a square waveform with exactly the same frequencies. Therefore the capacitor voltage oscillates divergently with an increasing amplitude. A simple one-stage capacitor-diode voltage multiplier (CDVM) connected to the resonant capacitor then rectifies the alternating voltage and gives a dc level equal to twice the input voltage amplitude. The produced high voltage appears then in the form of high-voltage pulses across the load. A basic model is simulated by Simulink platform of MATLAB and the results are included in the paper.

A spectroscopic comparison of YBCO superconductors synthesised by solid-state and co-precipitation methods

Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) have been used to compare samples of YBa2Cu3O7 (YBCO) synthesised by the solid-state method and a novel co-precipitation technique. XRD results indicate that YBCO prepared by these two methods are phase pure, however the Raman and SEM results show marked differences between these samples.

A flexible solid-state pulsed power topology

Advances in solid-state switches and power electronics techniques have led to the development of compact, efficient and more reliable pulsed power systems. This paper proposes an efficient scheme that utilizes modular switch-capacitor units in obtaining high voltage levels with fast rise time (dv/dt) using low voltage solid-state switches. The proposed pulsed power supply has flexibility in terms of controlling energy and generating broad range of voltage levels. The energy flow can be controlled as the stored energy can be adjusted by a current source utilized at the first stage of the system. Desirable voltage level can be obtained by connecting adequate number of switch-capacitor units. Moreover, the proposed topology is load independent. Therefore it can easily supply wide range of applications especially the low impedance ones. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is verified by simulations