Yoshinari Baba

Degradation of methyl orange using short-wavelength UV irradiation with oxygen microbubbles

A novel wastewater treatment technique using 8 W low-pressure mercury lamps in the presence of uniform-sized microbubbles (diameter = 5.79 microm) was investigated for the decomposition of methyl orange as a model compound in aqueous solution. Photodegradation experiments were conducted with a BLB black light blue lamp (365 nm), a UV-C germicidal lamp (254 nm) and an ozone lamp (185 nm+254 nm) both with and without oxygen microbubbles. The results show that the oxygen microbubbles accelerated the decolorization rate of methyl orange under 185+254 nm irradiation. In contrast, the microbubbles under 365 and 254 nm irradiation were unaffected on the decolorization of methyl orange. It was found that the pseudo-zero order decolorization reaction constant in microbubble system is 2.1 times higher than that in conventional large bubble system. Total organic carbon (TOC) reduction rate of methyl orange was greatly enhanced by oxygen microbubble under 185+254 nm irradiation, however, TOC reduction rate by nitrogen microbubble was much slower than that with 185+254 nm irradiation only. Possible reaction mechanisms for the decolorization and mineralization of methyl orange both with oxygen and nitrogen mirobubbles were proposed in this study.

Mechanism of Cr(VI) adsorption by coir pith studied by ESR and adsorption kinetic.

The oxidation state of chromium in coir pith after Cr(VI) adsorption from aqueous solution was investigated using electron spin resonance (ESR). To elucidate the mechanism of chromium adsorption on coir pith, the adsorption studies of Cr(VI) onto lignin, alpha-cellulose and holocellulose extracted from coir pith were also studied. ESR signals of Cr(V) and Cr(III) were observed in coir pith adsorbed Cr(VI) at solution pH 2, while ESR spectra of lignin extracted from coir pith revealed only the Cr(III) signal. In addition, ESR signal of Cr(V) was observed in alpha-cellulose and holocellulose extracted from coir pith adsorbed Cr(VI). These results confirmed that lignin in coir pith reduced Cr(VI) to Cr(III) while alpha-cellulose and holocellulose extracted from coir pith reduced Cr(VI) to Cr(V). The Cr(V) signal exhibited in ESR of alpha-cellulose and holocellulose might be bound with glucose in cellulose part of coir pith. In addition, xylose which is main in pentosan part of coir pith, indicated that it is involved in form complex with Cr(V) on coir pith. The adsorption kinetic of Cr(VI) from aqueous solution on coir pith was also investigated and described well with pseudo second order model. ESR and desorption experiments confirmed that Cr(VI), Cr(V) and Cr(III), exist in coir pith after Cr(VI) adsorption. The desorption data indicated that the percentage of Cr(VI), Cr(V) and Cr(III) in coir pith were 15.63%, 12.89% and 71.48%, respectively.

Solid phase extraction of zinc(II) using a PVC-based polymer inclusion membrane with di(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (D2EHPA) as the carrier

A polymer inclusion membrane (PIM) is reported consisting of 45% (m/m) di(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (D2EHPA) immobilized in poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) for use as a solid phase absorbent for selectively extracting Zn(II) from aqueous solutions in the presence of Cd(II), Co(II), Cu(II), Ni(II) and Fe(II). Interference from Fe(III) in the sample is eliminated by precipitation with orthophosphate prior to the extraction of Zn(II). Studies using a dual compartment transport cell have shown that the Zn(II) flux (2.58 x 10(-6)mol m(-2)s(-1)) is comparable to that observed for supported liquid membranes. The stoichiometry of the extracted complex is shown to be ZnR(2).HR, where R is the D2EHPA anion.

Extraction and separation of a lysine-rich protein by formation of supramolecule between crown ether and protein in aqueous two-phase system.

The macrocyclic calixarenes and crown ethers have recently been found to form hydrophobic complexes with the cationic protein cytochrome c (Cyt-c), by recognizing lysine residues on the protein surface. In the present study, it was found that the distribution of cytochrome c in Li(2)SO(4)/PEG aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) can be controlled by complexation with the crown ether dicyclohexano-18-crown-6 (DCH18C6). The protein was quantitatively extracted into the PEG-rich phase in the presence of DCH18C6 and perchlorate ion. Of various crown ethers and their analogues that were investigated, only DCH18C6 was able to extract cytochrome c into the PEG-rich phase. Extraction of cytochrome c in the ATPS using DCH18C6 is complete within 5 min. Cytochrome c complexed with DCH18C6 in the PEG-rich phase was quantitatively recovered into a salt-rich phase using K(2)SO(4) by ion exchange of potassium ion and cationic protein in the cationic protein complex with DCH18C6. Selective extraction of cationic proteins was demonstrated in the ATPS. Under optimum conditions, the lysine-rich protein cytochrome c was selectively extracted over other cationic proteins using DCH18C6.

Hydrolysis rates of olive oil by lipase in a monodispersed O/W emulsion system using membrane emulsification

Hydrolysis of olive oil in isooctane by lipase from Candida cylindracea in an aqueous solution was carried out in a polydispersed emulsion system prepared by a homogenizer and in a monodispersed emulsion system prepared by the shirasu-porous-glass (SPG) membrane emulsification method. An emulsion system consisting of both SDS and PVA at pH 7.8 was best suited for the reaction. In the monodispersed emulsion, the droplet diameter was controlled by the pore diameter of the SPG membrane to give droplets with a narrow diameter distribution range. The rate of hydrolysis was affected by the concentrations of olive oil and lipase, the interfacial area and the emulsion droplets diameter. The kinetic data were interpreted by the interfacial reaction model, in which desorption of the product from the interface was the rate determining step. The equilibrium constant of the adsorption of lipase at the interface were very small compared with that obtained in the isothermal adsorption equilibrium of lipase at the interface without a surfactant. The equilibrium constants of the reaction between lipase adsorbed at the interface and olive oil in the organic phase were nearly of the same order as those obtained in the Lewis cell and the VibroMixer. The desorption rate constants of the product were very large compared with that in the Lewis cell.

Cellulose aerogel regenerated from ionic liquid solution for immobilized metal affinity adsorption.

Surface morphology of cellulosic adsorbents is expected to influence the adsorption behavior of biomacromolecules. In the present study, cellulose aerogel regenerated from ionic liquid solution was prepared for use as a polymer support for protein adsorption. Iminodiacetic acid groups were introduced to the aerogel for immobilized metal affinity adsorption of proteins. A Cu(II)-immobilized iminodiacetic acid cellulose aerogel (Cu(II)-IDA-CA), which has a large specific surface area, showed a higher adsorption capacity than Cu(II)-immobilized iminodiacetic acid bacterial cellulose (Cu(II)-IDA-BC) and Cu(II)-immobilized iminodiacetic acid plant cellulose (Cu(II)-IDA-PC). In contrast, the Cu(II)-immobilized cellulosic adsorbents showed similar adsorption capacities for smaller amino acid and peptides. The results show that cellulose aerogels are useful as polymer supports with high protein adsorption capacities.

Selective extraction and transport of copper(II) with new alkylated pyridinecarboxylic acid derivatives.

Two kinds of N-(6-alkylamido)-2-pyridine carboxylic acid with a pyridine moiety and a carboxylic acid as chelating ligands were newly synthesized for the selective extraction and the transport of copper(II) from aqueous solution. Liquid-liquid extraction was carried out to examine the extraction ability of extractants with metal ions. The selectivity for the metal ions with N-6-(2-ethylhexylamido)-2-pyridine carboxylic acid (EHPA) was in the following order: Cu(II)>>Zn(II) approximately Pb(II) approximately Ni(II) approximately Co(II)>Cd(II)>Mn(II). All metals tested in this study were selectively extracted at a lower pH by 2-3 units compared with commercial available alkyl carboxylic acids such as naphthenic acid and Versatic 10. The extraction equilibria of copper(II) were measured by a batchwise method at 303K with EHPA and N-6-(t-dodecylamido)-2-pyridinecarboxylic acid (t-DAPA). Copper(II) was extracted as a 1:2 complex according to the following reaction: Cu(2+)+2(HR )(2)=CuR(2)2HR +2H(+). The extraction equilibrium constant, K(ex) was evaluated and the values were found to be 1.13 and 0.31 for EHPA and t-DAPA, respectively. It was demonstrated that t-DAPA was very stable to be incorporated into a polymer inclusion membrane (PIM) consisting of cellulose triacetate (CTA) as a base polymer and 2-nitrophenyl octylether (NPOE) as a plasticizer. This novel PIM containing t-DAPA as a carrier exhibited an excellent copper(II) transport characteristic and a high selectivity for copper(II) over cadmium(II) from aqueous solution.

Enhanced water dispersibility of coenzyme Q10 by complexation with albumin hydrolysate.

The biologically important coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is widely used as a drug for chronic heart failure, as a nutritional supplement, and in cosmetics. However, the oral bioavailability of CoQ10 is poor due to its extremely low solubility in aqueous media. In this study, complexation of CoQ10 with albumin hydrolysate as a peptide mixture (Pep) was shown to enhance the water dispersibility of CoQ10. An aqueous solution of Pep and an acetone solution of CoQ10 were mixed and lyophilized to obtain a white-yellow powder containing peptides and CoQ10 complex (Q10-Pep). The water dispersibility of Q10-Pep was much higher than that of CoQ10 alone and increased with the quantity of Pep. The particle size of Q10-Pep in aqueous media was 170-280 nm, suggesting that Q10-Pep was present as a hydrocolloidal material. Characterization of Q10-Pep using differential scanning calorimetry showed that CoQ10 was incorporated in the hydrocolloid in an amorphous state.

Enhancement of water solubility of indomethacin by complexation with protein hydrolysate

Complex formation between indomethacin (Indo) and casein hydrolysate was developed as a novel technique for enhancing the water solubility of Indo. The complex (Indo-Pep) was prepared by mixing an ethanol solution of Indo and an aqueous solution of peptide mixture, followed by lyophilization. The water solubility of Indo-Pep under weakly acidic and neutral conditions is much higher than that of Indo alone. The water solubility of Indo increased with increasing quantity of peptide. Characterization of Indo-Pep using scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and X-ray diffraction showed that Indo was incorporated in Indo-Pep in an amorphous state. The fluorescence quenching of Indo-Pep also suggested complexation between Indo and the peptides. An aqueous solution of Indo-Pep was fractioned by centrifugation followed by filtration using membrane filters and ultrafilters. Analysis of the fractions by dynamic light scattering and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy showed that Indo-Pep consisted of small particles and was not a hydrocolloidal material.

Characteristics and kinetics of lipase-catalyzed hydrolysis of olive oil in a reverse micellar system

Abstract The hydrolysis rates of olive oil catalyzed by lipase were measured in a reverse micellar system using sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (AOT) under various conditions. The maximum activity of lipase in the reverse micelles was obtained between pH 6.3 and 7.3. The dependence of the activity on the water content, Wo, was influenced by the concentrations of both AOT and lipase. The activity at Wo = 7 decreased with increasing lipase concentration when the AOT concentration was below 100 mol/m3. The stability of the lipase in the micelles decreased with increases in the value of Wo and in the concentration of AOT. The hydrolysis reaction catalyzed by lipase in the reverse micelles was interpreted by a reaction model based on the interfacial reaction between lipase adsorbed at the interface and the substrate in the organic phase. The rate is controlled by the desorption step of free fatty acids into the organic solution. The desorption rate constants of fatty acids produced were independent of the AOT concentration at a fixed Wo, and were of nearly the same order of magnitude as that obtained in the emulsion system.