Ewa Skwarek

Effect of zeta potential value on bacterial behavior during electrophoretic separation

The aggregation and/or adhesion of bacterial cells is a serious disadvantage of electrophoretic separations. In this study, physicochemical surface characteristics of bacteria were measured to establish their role in bacterial adhesion and aggregation on the basis of electrophoretic behavior of different clinical strains of Gram‐positive Staphylococcus aureus and Gram‐negative Escherichia coli bacteria. The number and the shape of peaks obtained on the electropherograms were connected with the zeta potential measurements and in‐line microscope observation using specially designed CE fluorescence stereomicroscope setup. These results suggest that the lower the zeta potential, the higher the number of smaller peaks detected. The direct microscopic observation of electrophoretic movement proved the presence of many small aggregates originating from individual or clustered bacterial cells. On the other hand, lower zeta potential was also observed for dead bacterial cells, which suggested that some of the peaks can be attributed to viable cells while the other to the dead ones.

Adsorption of citrate ions on hydroxyapatite synthetized by various methods

The specific adsorption of citric acid ions at hydroxyapatite interface was investigated by the means of radioisotope method (14C) as a function of citric acid ions concentration, NaCl concentration and pH. Application of the hydroxyapatite has become wide in the biomaterial field as the Ca10(OH)2(PO4)6 possess biocompatibility with human hard tissue. Hydroxyapatite was synthesized using three different methods. The physical properties of the resulting powder were characterized by DTA/TG, XRD, AFM and SEM microscopy. Physicochemical qualities characterizing the electrical double layer of the hydroxyapatite/NaCl solution interface were determined. The zeta potential and the adsorption of citric acid molecule were studied as a function of pH. The point of zero charge and the isoelectric point of samples were determined. Electrical double layer parameters of hydroxyapatite/NaCl interface are influenced by a synthesis method. The points pHpzc and pHIEP for sample 1 are pHpzc 7.5 and pHIEP 3; for sample 2 pHpzc 7.05 and pHIEP 3, for smaple 3 pHpzc 6.7 and pHIEP 3. Temperature has weak influence both on pure substance and with citric acid adsorbed, as derivatographic analysis has shown, and characterization of hydroxyapatite structure may be carried out by this thermal analysis. Two phenomena are responsible for citric acid adsorption: phosphate group’s replacement at hydroxyapatite surface by citric ions parallel to intraspherical complexes formation.

Electrokinetic Properties of the Pristine and Oxidized MWCNT Depending on the Electrolyte Type and Concentration

Electrostatic stabilization is reduced in its efficiency in an electrolyte-containing environment. The effect of electrolyte concentration is mostly described as negative factor for dispersion stabilization. Usually, zeta potential and physical stability decrease at increasing electrolyte concentration. The purpose of the present study was to measure the surface properties of nanotubes in aqueous solution of monovalent electrolytes at different concentration. Characteristics such as size distribution, surface chemistry, surface charge, and dispersability in aqueous phase have been identified. Hydrodynamic size and zeta potential in aqueous multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) suspensions were determined at different pH with the desired concentrations of electrolyte of the cationic group (NaCl, KCl, CsCl) and the anionic group (NaClO4). The correlations between the response of the surface functionality of pristine and oxidized multiwalled carbon nanotubes and electrical double layer (EDL) forming at different ionic environments in the vicinity of a nanotube surface were determined. The nanotube dispersion stabilization was found to be more affected by ion size and pH medium then electrolyte concentration. The data obtained confirms the predominant role of surface reactions. The most stable dispersion of nanotubes was achieved in KCl electrolyte solution at less negative charge of the surface.

Adsorption of Zn on Synthetic Hydroxyapatite from Aqueous Solution

The aim of this paper was to discuss the changes in the double electrical layer at the hydroxyapatite /electrolyte solution interface during zinc ions adsorption. The second aim was establishing the relations between time and adsorption on this material. Hydroxyapatite of a determined specific surface area was prepared by the wet method, characterized by XRD methods, scanning and atomic microscopes. Moreover, the specific surface area was characterized and the grain sizes were determined. Studies of adsorption were carried out using 65Zn isotopes and ionic solutions containing this ion depending on concentration and pH of the solution. Zn adsorption isotherms on hydroxyapatite were determined. The effect of the presence of zinc ions on grain sizes surface charge density and zeta potential was discussed.

Effect of adsorption of Pb(II) and Cd(II) ions in the presence of EDTA on the characteristics of electrical double layers at the ion exchanger/NaCl electrolyte solution interface.

The main propose of this work was to describe the basic parameters of electrical double layer structures of the ion exchanger/NaCl before and after the sorption process of Pb(II) and Cd(II) ions from aqueous solutions in the presence of the complexing agent EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid). In the studies the following ion exchangers were used: cation exchangers Micro-ionex (in the H(+) and NH(+)(4) forms), Dowex 50W x 4 (in the H(+) form), and Dowex 50W x 12 (in the H(+) form); anion exchangers Dowex 1 x 4 (in the Cl(-) form) and Dowex 1 x 8 (in the Cl(-) form). Study of the physicochemical properties of the sample surface was carried out. The influence of ionic strength, pH, and solution interface was investigated. Electrophoretic mobility, surface charge density, and parameters for different concentrations of the electrolytes under question were presented. pH was changed from 3 to 10. The studies were carried out for the M(II)-EDTA = 1:1 system. The effects of the concentration of the solution containing the above-noted complexes and of the ion exchange/solution phase contact time on sorption capacities of the ion exchangers under consideration were studied. Kinetic parameters of the sorption process were also determined.

Hydrothermal, microwave and mechanochemical modification of amorphous zirconium phosphate structure

The influence of hydrothermal HTT, microwave MWT and mechanochemical MChT treatments on structure of precipitated amorphous zirconium phosphate has been studied. Using XRF, XRD and DTA-TG techniques, the formation of the low-crystalline zirconium hydrophosphate Zr(HPO4)2·H2O after HTT and MWT has been established. All types of modification promote increase in specific surface area, pore volume and pore size as well as extend the limits of the porous structure parameters variation. MChT of wet gel allow to prepare the samples possessing simultaneously high values of specific surface area, volume and pore size. Total surface acidity significant increases as a result of modification. HTT and MWT as well as MChT of wet gel lead to increasing surface homogeneity as the decrease in fractal dimension for modified samples indicates.

Study of sorption processes of strontium on the synthetic hydroxyapatite

Adsorption of 90Sr on hydroxyapatite is important in many fields of life. The aim of the paper was to discuss the changes in the double electrical layer at the hydroxyapatite/electrolyte solution interface during Sr ions adsorption and to establish the relations between time and adsorption on this material. Hydroxyapatite was prepared by the wet method, characterized by the X-ray diffraction and accelerated surface area and porosimetry methods. Studies of adsorption were carried out using 90Sr isotopes and ionic solutions containing this ion depending on concentration and pH of the solution. Sr adsorption isotherms on hydroxyapatite were determined and the effect of strontium ions presence on the surface charge density and zeta potential was discussed.

Adsorption of Cd(II) ions at the hydroxyapatite/electrolyte solution interface

Abstract The study of the Cd(II) ions adsorption at the hydroxyapatite/electrolyte solution interface and the changes of the electrical double layer (EDL) structure in this system are presented. The adsorption of Cd(II) ions was calculated from the loss of their concentration from the solution using the radioisotope method. The adsorption was studied in the range of the initial concentration from 0.000001 to 0.001mol/dm3 and as the function of pH. The results of measurements of Cd(II) ions adsorption kinetics on hydroxyapatite were fitted using the pseudo-first, pseudo-second, and multiexponential modes to check which model describes this process in the best way. In addition, the main properties of the EDL, i.e., surface charge density and zeta potential were determined by the potentiometeric titration and electrophoresis measurements, respectively. The adsorption of Cd(II) ions at hydroxyapatite contributed to the increase of the zeta potential and also to the change of the double electrical layer structure.

Interfacial phenomena at a surface of partially silylated nanosilica.

Unmodified pyrogenic silica PS300 and partially silylated nanosilica samples at a degree of substitution of surface silanols by trimethylsilyl (TMS) groups Θ(TMS)=27.2% and 37.2% were studied to elucidate features of the interfacial behavior of water adsorbed alone, or co-adsorbed with methane, hydrogen, or trifluoroacetic acid (TFAA). In the aqueous suspension modified PS300 at Θ(TMS)=37.2% forms aggregates of 50-200 nm in size and can bind significant amounts of water (up to ∼5 g/g). Only 0.5 g/g of this water is strongly bound, while the major fraction of water is weakly bound. The presence of surface TMS groups causes the appearance of weakly associated water (WAW) at the interfaces. The adsorption of methane and hydrogen onto TMS-nanosilica with pre-adsorbed water (hydration degree h=0.05 or 0.005 g/g) increases with increasing temperature. In weakly polar CDCl3 medium, interfacial water exists in strongly (SAW, chemical shift δ(H)=4-5 ppm) and weakly (δ(H)=1-2 ppm) associated states, as well as strongly (changes in the Gibbs free energy -ΔG>0.5-0.8 kJ/mol) and weakly (-ΔG<0.5-0.8 kJ/mol) bound states. WAW does not dissolve TFAA but some fraction of SAW bound to TMS-nanosilica surface can dissolve TFAA.

Adsorption of Cs+ at the Hydroxyapatite/Aqueous Electrolyte Interface

The aim of this paper is to discuss the changes in the double electrical layer at the hydroxyapatite/electrolyte solution interface during the adsorption of Cs+ and to establish the relationship between the time and adsorption on this material. The adsorbent was prepared by wet precipitation methods, and characterized by X-ray diffraction and low-temperature nitrogen adsorption–desorption methods. The specific surface area of the adsorbent was characterized and the suitable particle sizes were determined. Adsorption of 137Cs isotopes from ionic solutions was carried out at different concentrations and pH. The values of Cs+ adsorption on the hydroxyapatite were quantified and the effect of Cs on its grains (particles) size, morphology, surface charge density and zeta potential was discussed.