A novel explanation for fluctuations of ion current through narrow pores

Fluctuation of ion current, between a high conductance and a low conductance state, through biological ion channels and pores is assumed to arise from conformational changes between an "open" and a "closed" configuration. Here we offer an additional mechanism that arises from changes in ionization of fixed charges within, or at the mouth of, a channel or pore. Our hypothesis, which is based on measurements of ion selectivity alongside ion current, applies to pores through some synthetic membranes and through channels-such as those created by certain toxins-that remain (at least partially) open in the low conductance state. It may also explain the phenomena of "open channel noise" and "substate behavior" that characterize several endogenous ion channels and should be considered when modeling the behavior of such channels.     

Diffusion-limited ion flow through pores

If the permeability of an ion channel is high, the overall transport becomes ultimately limited by the rate with which ions from the aqueous phase arrive at the mouth of the channel. In this study a theoretical treatment of diffusion-limited ion transport through pores is given which takes both concentration and electric potential gradients into account as driving forces for the flow of ions. The current-voltage characteristic of a diffusion-limited channel is found to be strongly saturating. Addition of an impermeable elesults from a reduction in the electric field strength near the mouth of the channel. At low voltages the permeability P of the pore is obtaines as 1/P =(1/Pi)+(1/P'c)+(1/P'c) where Pi is the intrinsic permeability and P'c, P'c are the left-hand and right-hand convergence permeabilities, respectivelyl which are proportional to the aqueous diffusion coefficient of the permeable ion and to the effective capture radius of the pore.     

Self-diffusion in fluids in porous glass: confinement by pores and liquid adsorption layers

Diffusion coefficients of 10 different polar and nonpolar liquids filled in porous glasses with mean pore diameters of 4 or 30 nm were determined with the aid of the NMR field-gradient technique. In the time scale of these experiments (0.3 to 500 ms) diffusion coefficients were found to be time independent. Within the experimental error, no influence of the polarity of the adsorbate can be stated. The diffusion coefficients of all investigated fluids in glass with 4 and 30 nm pores were reduced by factors of 0.17 and 0.63, respectively, relative to the bulk values. This relatively weak reduction can be explained by considering the known porosities of the adsorbents. The second objective of this study was to examine the diffusion behaviour below the melting point of adsorbates in porous glass. Fluids confined in pores do not freeze at the bulk freezing temperatures. In this respect, two phases must be distinguished. A maximal two monolayer thick film adsorbed on the inner surfaces does not crystallize at all, whereas the "free" fraction of the fluid in the pores freezes at reduced temperatures according to the Gibbs-Thompson relation. The nonfrozen surface layers form a network in which self-diffusion can be investigated. Experiments have been carried out with cyclohexane. A reduction factor of 0.06 was found relative to the extrapolated values of the entirely unfrozen fluid in porous glass with a mean pore diameter of 30 nm. It is, thus, demonstrated that molecules in adsorption layers virtually retain their translational degrees of freedom along the surfaces. The lowering of the diffusivity is mainly due to the geometric restriction rather than to the interaction with the surface.     

树脂吸附铜锌离子的数值模拟

镀金原料氰化亚金钾的生产过程含氰废液中锌（Ⅱ）离子和铜离子（Ⅱ）浓度较高，为探究树脂吸附铜、锌离子的规律，运用Aspen Adsorption数值模拟软件对Φ10 mm×200 mm的树脂固定床吸附过程进行数值模拟，采用一阶迎风差分法作为偏微分方程的离散方法，研究不同条件下的吸附穿透曲线和吸附负荷分布曲线.结果表明:增加进料流量和进料浓度均可提高吸附效率，传质系数（K_S）大于临界值时，吸附穿透曲线不再受其影响，K_S（Zn2+）=4.3×10-3s-1, K_S（Cu2+）=1.00×10-2s-1.      

Breakthrough curves for adsorption and elution of rhenium in a column ion exchange system

Impure rhenium and molybdenum bearing solution was passed through a column of Varian strong base anionic resin for selective adsorption of rhenium and molybdenum ions from the solution. Elution of molybdenum and rhenium was carried out using 2 N NaOH and 0.2 N NH₄SCN, respectively. The effect of resin bed height on breakthrough time was investigated. Experimental and theoretical curves were compared with good agreement. The results showed that the behavior pattern of these curves was repeatable and almost constant.     

Characterization of the ion channels formed by poliovirus in planar lipid membranes

The steps in poliovirus infection leading to viral entry and uncoating are not well understood. Current evidence suggests that the virus first binds to a plasma membrane-bound receptor present in viable cells, leading to a conformational rearrangement of the viral proteins such that the virus crosses the membrane and releases the genomic RNA. The studies described in this report were undertaken to determine if poliovirus (160S) as well as one of the subviral particles (135S) could interact with membranes lacking poliovirus receptors in an effort to begin to understand the process of uncoating of the virus. We report that both forms of viral particles, 160S and 135S, interact with lipid membranes and induce the formation of ion-permeable channels in a manner that does not require acid pH. The channels induced by the viral particles 160S have a voltage-dependent conductance which depends on the ionic composition of the medium. Our findings raise the possibility that viral entry into cells may be mediated by direct interaction of viral surface proteins with membrane lipids.     

Designed protein pores as components for biosensors

BACKGROUND: There is a pressing need for new sensors that can detect a variety of analytes, ranging from simple ions to complex compounds and even microorganisms. The devices should offer sensitivity, speed, reversibility and selectivity. Given these criteria, protein pores, remodeled so that their transmembrane conductances are modulated by the association of specific analytes, are excellent prospects as components of biosensors. RESULTS: Structure-based design and a separation method that employs targeted chemical modification have been used to obtain a heteromeric form of the bacterial pore-forming protein staphylococcal alpha-hemolysin, in which one of the seven subunits contains a binding site for a divalent metal ion, M(II), which serves as a prototypic analyte. The single-channel current of the heteromer in planar bilayers is modulated by nanomolar Zn(II). Other M(II)s modulate the current and produce characteristic signatures. In addition, heteromers containing more than one mutant subunit exhibit distinct responses to M(II)s Hence, a large collection of responsive pores can be generated through subunit diversity and combinatorial assembly. CONCLUSIONS: Engineered pores have several advantages as potential sensor elements: sensitivity is in the nanomolar range; analyte binding is rapid (diffusion limited in some cases) and reversible; strictly selective binding is not required because single-channel recordings are rich in information; and for a particular analyte, the dissociation rate constant, the extent of channel block and the voltage-dependence of these parameters are distinguishing, while the frequency of partial channel block reflects the analyte concentration. A single sensor element might, therefore, be used to quantitate more than one analyte at once. The approach described here can be generalized for additional analytes.     

Leaching ion adsorption rare earth by aluminum sulfate for increasing efficiency and lowering the environmental impact

The leaching efficiency(LE) of ion adsorption rare earth(IARE) by the sulfate and chloride of ammonium,magnesium and aluminum were comparatively determined using column leaching method. It is found that at equal equivalent concentration of cation, the LE of IARE by aluminum sulfate is the highest, and the zeta potential of clay mineral particles in the tailing is near to zero, which means a lower risk of landslide and pollutant emission. Furthermore, the optimum concentration of aluminum sulfate is determined to be0.02 mol/L, which is much lower than that of ammonium sulfate and magnesium sulfate. To reduce the production cost and environmental impact, we proposed a multi-stage leaching process, which was firstly leaching with ammonium sulfate and then with aluminum sulfate, following by water washing and lime neutralizing. With the ratio of ammonium sulfate to aluminum sulfate varying from 1:0 to 0.5:0.5, the residual ammonium in tailing decreases from 11.2% to 0.6%, however, the LE of RE shows an optimum value at 0.8:0.2. By neutralizing the pH of tailing with lime water to over 6, the ion concentration in water rinsing solution can meet the requirement for water discharge. At the same time, the zeta potential of clay particles is found to be around-5 mV, means a relatively lower risk of landslide. These facts indicate that the LE of IARE can be increased and the danger caused by tailings landslides and pollutant emissions can be reduced by replacing ammonium sulfate with aluminum sulfate as leaching reagent.     

半风化离子吸附型稀土的浸取实验

针对龙南某矿山的半风化离子型稀土进行浸取试验研究.矿样中全相品位为 0.11 %,其中离子相稀土含量为 0.083 7 %.考察了浸取剂种类,浸取剂浓度,淋洗液固比以及尾水液固比对浸取的影响,其最佳柱浸浸取条件为:HT-13 浓度 2 %,淋洗液固比（指质量比,下同）为 0.4:1,尾液水液固比为0.6:1, 在此条件下稀土离子相浸出率为 98.06 %. 在放大试验中 HT-13 浸出液中稀土离子浓度为1.14 g/L,铝浓度为 10.8 mg/L,铁浓度为 7.8 mg/L,且 HT-13 可以循环使用.      

Selective adsorption of uranyl ion on ion-imprinted chitosan/PVA cross-linked hydrogel

An interpenetration network (IPN) ion-imprinting hydrogel (IIH) was synthesized using uranyl ions as template for adsorption and removal of uranyl ions from aqueous solutions. The IIH was obtained via cross-linking of blended chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) using ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether (EGDE). The ability of the IIH to adsorb and remove uranyl ions from aqueous solutions was assessed using a batch adsorption technique. The maximum adsorption capacity was observed in the pH range of 5.0-6.0. The adsorption process could be well described by both the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms and the maximum adsorption capacity calculated from Langmuir equation was 156 mg/g. Equilibrium was achieved within 2 h. The kinetic data, obtained at optimum pH 5.0 could be fitted with to a pseudo-second order equation. The selectivity coefficient of uranyl ion and other metal cations on IIH indicated an overall preference for uranyl ions which was much higher compared with the non-imprinted hydrogel. This suggests that the IIH is a promising sorbent material for the selective removal of uranyl ions from aqueous solutions.     

A technique for the direct observation of pores in porous materials

Conclusions The method of direct observation of pores yields information regarding the shape and relative positions of individual pores in specimens and enables pore texture to be examined.Translated from Poroshkovaya Metallurgiya, No. 8 (116), pp. 77–80, August, 1972.