Impact of defects on the decomposition of chemical warfare agent simulants in Zr-based metal organic frameworks

Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) containing zirconium secondary building units (SBUs) in UiO-67 and related MOFs, are highly active for neutralizing both the chemical warfare agents and simulants, such as dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP). However, two recent publications gave conflicting reports of DMMP reaction with UiO-67 under ultra high vacuum (UHV) conditions, with one reporting chemisorption and reaction (Wang et al., J Phys Chem C, 2017, 121, 11261–11272) and the other reporting only physisorption and reversible desorption (Ruffley et al., J Phys Chem C, 2019, 123, 19748–19758) from very similar temperature programmed desorption experiments. We show that the discrepancy between these experiments may be explained by different levels of missing linker defects in the UiO-67 samples. We present density functional theory calculations showing that SBU sites having two-adjacent missing linkers exhibit reaction barriers that are about 30 kJ/mol lower than SBU sites having a single missing linker. We also show that topology of the undercoordinated sites plays an important role in the reaction barrier under UHV conditions.     

Achieving fabrication of highly transparent Y2O3 ceramics via air pre-sintering by deionization treatment of suspension

An easy albeit quite effective deionization suspension treatment was adopted to alleviate the detrimental effects related to the hydrolysis of Y₂O₃ in an aqueous medium. Fabrication of highly transparent Y₂O₃ ceramics with a fine grain size via air pre-sintering and post–hot isostatic pressing (HIP) treatment without using any sintering additive was achieved using the treated suspensions. The hydrolysis issue of Y₂O₃ powder in an aqueous medium was effectively alleviated by using deionization treatment, and a well-dispersed suspension with a low concentration of dissolved Y³⁺ species was obtained. The dispersed suspensions were consolidated by the centrifugal casting method, and the green bodies derived from the suspension of 35.0 vol% solid loading showed an improved homogeneity with a relative density of 52.1%. Fully dense Y₂O₃ transparent ceramic with high transparency was obtained by pre-sintering consolidated green compacts at a low temperature of 1400°C for 16 h in air followed by a post-HIP treatment at 1550°C for 2 h under 200 MPa pressure. The sample had a fine average grain size of 690 nm. The in-line transmittance of the sample reached 83.3% and 81.8% at 1100 nm and 800 nm, respectively, very close to the theoretical values of Y₂O₃.     

Application of Polyimide-based Microfluidic Devices on Acid-catalyzed Hydrolysis of Dimethoxypropane

Microfluidic devices intensify transport phenomena and can improve chemical processes. New manufacturing processes and materials are perpetually developed due to constantly growing interest in process intensification. In this contribution, the authors present the design and application of polyimide-foil-based microfluidic mixing devices manufactured by reactive ion etching. As appropriate model reaction system, acid-catalyzed 2,2-dimethoxypropane (DMP) hydrolysis was chosen and investigated in three different mixing structure with varying flow rate. Energy dissipation rates were calculated to estimate mixing performances. The results show good mixing quality for Reynolds numbers between 10 and 100 and similar mixing times scales for all investigated microstructured mixers.     

Mechanistic implications of the solvent kinetic isotope effect in the hydrolysis of NaBH4

The sodium borohydride, NaBH₄, hydrolysis mechanism is studied via the H₂O/D₂O kinetic isotope effect (KIE). This reaction is of importance as NaBH₄ is considered as a hydrogen storage material. Nowadays, hydrogen is thought to be one of the most promising and efficient clean energy carriers. In order to control the rate of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), one has to understand the mechanism of its production. The H₂O/D₂O KIE of the reactions of NaBH₄ and NaBD₄ with water was studied in solutions containing a ratio of H₂O/D₂O = 1.00. The separation factor, α, of both reactions is α = 5.0 ± 1.0. The rate of the hydrolysis of BD₄^? in H₂O is faster than that of BH₄^?. The results point out that the rate-determining step in all hydrolysis stages is the H–OH bond scission.     

Tungsten(VI) oxide supported rhodium nanoparticles: Highly active catalysts in hydrogen generation from ammonia borane

Herein, we report the use of tungsten(VI) oxide (WO₃) as support for Rh⁰ nanoparticles. The resulting Rh⁰/WO₃ nanoparticles are highly active and stable catalysts in H₂ generation from the hydrolysis of ammonia borane (AB). We present the results of our investigation on the particle size distribution, catalytic activity and stability of Rh⁰/WO₃ catalysts with 0.5%, 1.0%, 2.0% wt. Rh loadings in the hydrolysis reaction. The results reveal that Rh⁰/WO₃ (0.5% wt. Rh) is very promising catalyst providing a turnover frequency of 749 min^?1 in releasing 3.0 equivalent H₂ per mole of AB from the hydrolysis at 25.0 °C. The high catalytic activity of Rh⁰/WO₃ catalyst is attributed to the reducible nature of support. The report covers the results of kinetics study as well as comparative investigation of activity, recyclability, and reusability of colloidal(0) nanoparticles and Rh⁰/WO₃ (0.5 % wt. Rh) catalyst in the hydrolysis reaction.     

鲟鱼肝酶解条件优化及酶解液对双歧杆菌增殖效果的研究

为提高鲟鱼肝脏的加工附加值，使用碱性蛋白酶，以水解度为评价指标，在单因素试验的基础上，通过Plackett-Burman试验、响应面分析法优化鲟鱼肝蛋白酶解条件。在此条件下，进一步探究了酶解液对双歧杆菌的促生长效果。结果表明，最优酶解条件为碱性蛋白酶添加量10 540 U/g鱼肝蛋白、体系初始pH值10.0、酶解时间8.6 h、酶解温度45 ℃、料液比1∶10（g∶mL），此条件下水解度（81.7%）是优化前（40.4%）的1.02倍。鲟鱼肝蛋白酶解液对青春双歧杆菌、两歧双歧杆菌、动物双歧杆菌、长双歧杆菌、短双歧杆菌和婴儿双歧杆菌6种均具有显著的促生长效果。研究结果为鲟鱼加工副产物利用提供了新途径，同时也为双歧杆菌促生长因子的研发提供新思路。     

Antioxidant activities of enzymatic‐hydrolysed proteins of dromedary (Camelus dromedarius) colostrum

This work investigated the antioxidant activities of dromedary colostrum proteins before and after hydrolysis by pepsin, trypsin, α‐chymotrypsin, pancreatin and papain. The enzymatic hydrolysis affected the degrees of hydrolysis, electrophoretic profiles, molecular weight distribution and hydrophobic/hydrophilic properties of the generated peptides. The antioxidant activities were evaluated using four antioxidant assays, including 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′‐azinobis(3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical‐scavenging activities, ferric reducing power and ferrous ion chelating activity. Interestingly, the antioxidant activities of dromedary colostrum proteins were enhanced after enzymatic hydrolysis. The highest antioxidant potential was obtained by pancreatic hydrolysates (P ≤ 0.05). These results suggest that dromedary colostrum protein hydrolysates are an important source of natural antioxidant peptides.     

复合酶酶解作用对豆粉溶解性的影响

在传统制备豆粉工艺的基础上,采用木瓜蛋白酶、风味蛋白酶和碱性蛋白酶的复合酶酶解豆粉提高豆粉的溶解性。在单因素试验基础上,采用响应面分析法对复合酶酶解工艺制备高溶解性豆粉工艺进行优化,确定最优酶的添加量为1.2%,酶解时间为45 min,酶解温度为60℃,酶解pH值为6。在最优工艺条件下,豆粉的溶解性为89.45%,与传统的豆粉以及单一酶酶解的豆粉溶解性相比提高了近15%,表明复合酶酶解工艺可以显著提高豆粉的溶解性。     

胰蛋白酶对猪血红蛋白酶解脱色条件优化

以酶解液水解度（hydrolysis degree，DH）、三氯乙酸（trichloroacetic acid，TCA）可溶性氮含量及血红素残留量为评定指标，采用单因素试验比较胰蛋白酶和碱性蛋白酶对猪血红蛋白的酶解脱色效果。在单因素试验基础上，进行4因素3水平正交试验。结果表明：胰蛋白酶水解脱色的效果更好，最佳酶解工艺参数为酶底比7500 U/g、酶解温度45 ℃、pH 7.5、底物质量浓度8 g/100 mL，在此条件下，酶解液DH为25.67%，TCA可溶性氮含量为80.05%，血红素残留量为18.34%，猪血红蛋白多肽粉蛋白含量83.17%；对此条件下制备的猪血红蛋白多肽粉进行分子质量分布分析，分子质量在1 000 Da以下的小肽占比94.20%；最佳酶解脱色条件下，猪血红蛋白多肽粉中TCA可溶性氮含量为80.05%的蛋白占猪血红蛋白多肽粉蛋白含量的96.25%，这与分子质量分布结果比较符合。