An electrochemical DNA sensor based on electrodepositing aluminum ion films on stearic acid-modified carbon paste electrode and its application for the detection of specific sequences related to bar gene and CP4 Epsps gene

An electrochemical DNA biosensor was fabricated by immobilizing DNA probe on aluminum ion films that were electrodeposited on the surface of the stearic acid-modified carbon paste electrode (CPE). DNA immobilization and hybridization were characterized with cyclic voltammetry (CV) by using methylene blue (MB) as indicator. MB has a couple of well-defined voltammetric redox peaks at the CPE. The currents of redox peaks of MB decreased after depositing aluminum ion films on the CPE (Al(III)/CPE) and increased dramatically after immobilizing DNA probe (ssDNA/Al(III)/CPE). Hybridization of DNA probe led to a marked decrease of the peak currents of MB, which can be used to detect the target single-stranded DNA. The conditions for the preparation of Al(III)/CPE, and DNA immobilization and hybridization were optimized. The specific sequences related to bar transgene in the transgenic corn and the PCR amplification of CP4 epsps gene from the sample of transgenic roundup ready soybean were detected by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) with this new electrochemical DNA biosensor. The difference between the peak currents of MB at ssDNA/Al(III)/CPE and that at hybridization DNA modified electrode (dsDNA/Al(III)/CPE) was applied to determine the Specific sequence related to the target bar gene with the dynamic range comprised between 1.0 X 10(-7) mol/L to 1.0 x 10(-4) mol/L. A detection limit of 2.25 x.10(-8) mol/L. of oligonucleotides can be estimated.

Evaluation of the pyrolytic and kinetic characteristics of Enteromorpha prolifera as a source of renewable bio-fuel from the Yellow Sea of China

The pyrolytic and kinetic characteristics of Enteromorpha prolifera from the Yellow Sea were evaluated at heating rates of 10, 20 and 50 degrees C min(-1), respectively. The results indicated that three stages appeared during pyrolysis; dehydration, primary devolatilization and residual decomposition. Differences in the heating rates resulted in considerable differences in the pyrolysis of E. prolifera. Specifically, the increase of heating rates resulted in shifting of the initial temperature, peak temperature and the maximum weight loss to a higher value. The average activation energy of E. prolifera was 228.1 kJ mol(-1), the pre-exponential factors ranged from 49.93 to 63.29 and the reaction orders ranged from 2.2 to 3.7. In addition, there were kinetic compensation effects between the pre-exponential factors and the activation energy. Finally, the minimum activation energy was obtained when a heating rate of 20 degrees C min(-1) was used. (C) 2009 The Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Fabrication of Bismuth/Multi-walled Carbon Nanotube Composite Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode for Determination of Cobalt

A bismuth/multi-walled carbon nanotube (Bi/MWNT) composite modified electrode for determination of cobalt by differential pulse adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetry is described. The electrode is fabricated by potentiostatic pre-plating bismuth film on an MWNT modified glassy carbon (GC) electrode. The Bi/MWNT composite modified electrode exhibits enhanced sensitivity for cobalt detection as compared with the bare GC, MWNT modified and bismuth film electrodes. Numerous key experimental parameters have been examined for optimum analytical performance of the proposed electrode. With an adsorptive accumulation of the Co(II)-dimethylglyoxime complex at -0.8 V for 200 s, the reduction peak current is proportional to the concentration of cobalt in the range of 4.0x10(-11)-1.0x10(-7) mol/L with a lower detection limit of 8.1x10(-11) mol/L. The proposed method has been applied Successfully to cobalt determination in seawater and lake water samples.

Ionophore Based Bismuth Film Electrode for Lead

A Nafion/ionophore, 4-tert-butylcalix[4]arene-tetrakis(N,N-dimethylthioacetamide) composite coated and bismuth film modified glassy carbon electrode. (GC/NA-IONO/BiFE) was described to determine trace lead sensitively and selectively. The characteristics of such modified GC/NA-IONO/BiFE were studied by scanning electron microscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The influence of various experimental parameters upon the stripping lead signal at the GC/NA-IONO/BiFE was explored. Under the optimized conditions, the differential pulse voltammetric stripping response is highly linear over the 0.1-8.0 nM lead range examined (180s preconcentration at -1.2V), with a detection limit of 0.044nM and good precision (RSD=5.4% at 0.5nM). Also applicability to seawater samples was demonstrated at such modified electrode. The high selectivity of ionophore coupled with the excellent electrochemical characteristics of bismuth endow the GC/NA-IONO/BiFE a promising and robust tool for monitoring of trace lead rapidly and precisely.

Kinetic study of the accelerating effect of coal-burning additives on the combustion of graphite

The catalytic and accelerating effects of three coal-burning additives (CBA) on the burning of graphite were studied with the help of thermogravimetric (TG) analysis. The kinetic study on the catalytic oxidation of the graphite doped with CBA was carried out and the results were presented. The results show that the CBA can change the carbon oxidation/combustion course by catalytic action and change the activation energy, thus improving the combustion efficiency.

Influence of electrode structure on the performance of a direct methanol fuel cell

Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) consisting of multi-layer electrodes provide higher performance than those with the traditional electrode. The new electrode structure includes a hydrophilic thin film and a traditional catalyst layer. A decal transfer method was used to apply the thin film to the Nafion(R) membrane. Results show that the performance of a cell with the hydrophilic thin film is obviously enhanced. A cell with the optimal thin film electrode structure operating at I M CH3OH, 2 atm oxygen and 90degreesC yields a current density of 100 mA/cm(2) at 0.53 V cell voltage. The peak power density is 120 mW/cm(2). The performance stability of a cell in a short-term life operation was also increased when the hydrophilic thin film was employed. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.